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An Historical Sketch and Business Review of SAN ANTOXIO, TEXAS, 
the most beautiful, quaint, and healthy city on the American Continent; 
together with a complete Gruide to the various points of interest in and about 
this Ancient City. By Stephen Gould. 




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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



ANCIENT CITY OF THE ALAMO 



BUSINESS REVIEW; 



WITH NOTES OP PRESENT ADVANTAGES, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE GUIDE 

TO ALL THE PROMINENT POINTS OF INTEREST ABOUT THE 

CITY, AND A COMPILATION OF FACTS OF VALLT! 

TO VISITORS AND RESIDENTS. 



/ 



By STEPHEN GOULD. 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 3882, by 

STEPHEN GOULD, 
In the OfTice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

ALXi RIGHTS RESERVED. 



iCnOWAN & ?lI,TPPF,n, i*RTNTEES, 

80 Beekman St., New York. 






I 



ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 



To fhe historian, the pleasure seeker, the invalid, and the capitalist seeking 
profitable investments. San Antonio, Texas, possesses charms and advantages such 
as are offered by no other city in America, if, indeed, within the limits of civiliza- 
tion, ■wherever extended, throughout the world. Certainly no city in America can 
boast of a history more rich in deeds of valor and devotion to principle, to more 
determined conflicts between armed forces, productive of the grandest results. 
Every street and plaza, almost every foot of ground within the city limits, embrac- 
ing a territory of thirty-six square miles, marks the grave of a hero, friend or foe, 
and has been closely contested for by rival armies, won and rewon, conquered and 
reconquered many times. Such a history is one to be proud of, and with almost 
every stone baptized in human blood, shed in the defence of liberty, with its sacred 
Alamo, and the ashes of its heroes blown by every breeze to and fro about the site 
of the terrible liolocaust which concluded the sacrifice, the thoughts of visitors 
naturally turn to the romance of the past. 

But San Antonio has a present, and, we believe, will have a future as marked and 
distinctive as its past, notable as it has been. Situated in a charming valley or 
basin, surrounded by bills and at the head of the beautiful little river which bears 
its name, yet at an elevation of about six hundred feet abov'e the Gulf of Mexico, 
with rich mines and quarries near by and ready to pour their untold wealth iuto its 
coii'er«, the trading centre of a rich agricultural and stock raising country, the 
junction of the Southern Trans-Continental Railroad with the great j\lexican system 
of railways, with all old frontier and ^Mexican wagon roads centreing here with a 
climate unsurpassed by any in the world, a historic city possessed of all the con- 
veniences and comforts of modern civilization, ancient ruins, modern residences 
and business houses, old plazas and streets laid out by the early Spanish conciuerors, 
traversed by irrigation ditches built by the enrly Franciscan Fathers side by side 
with the mains of the water works company, with fire hydrants at convenient dis- 
tances, with the streets lighted by gas lamps and electric light, the street cars run- 
ning to distant points and the teleplioce annihilating space, modern parks, beautiful 
drives, numerous churches, fine educational advantages, hotels, boarding houses, 
fine residences, the most cosmopolitan of all the old cities of America — such is San 
Antonio to-day, while its natural advantages of situation, fine water power furni-hed 
by the river, notab e climate and rich tributary country mark it as a great manu- 
facturing centre in the future in additicm to proportional growth in the advantages 
which it now possesses. 

He who writes the histor}' of San Antonio writes the history of Texas, and 
although many writers have dealt with separate events, no one has j^et presented a 
complete hi.story of the city. Nor is it our intention at this time to attempt such a 
task, but merely to give a few of the more notable events of the past as a guide to 
tourists who wi-h to visit the various points of interest about the city in a limited 
time. We will therefore first give a historical sketch of the city, and then tell how 
to see the city to the best advantage in the least time, adding such tables and special 
articles as will prove of value to strangers and others. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



PREHISTORIC SAN ANTONIO. 



"Veiled in the romance of the Spanish conquests the early history of San Antonio 
possesses a magnetic charm to every lover of historic literature. This much we 
know: Tliat prior to 15'J5 the Spaniards established settlements on both sides of 
the Rio Giandi:-, and the records of the earliest travellers f-how an Indian town on 
the site of our jiresent city. It is probably the fact that San Antonio is the site of 
the principal town of some one of the more powerful tribes of the savage predecessors 
of the white man, and this opinion is borne out by the discover^' of numerous arrow 
heads, spear bends, Hint knives, and other savage weapons and utensils, while 
excavating for the race way for the water works at the head of the river during the 
spring of 1878. The depth at wliich these relics were found shows the length of 
time which they have been buried, and the great number of them and their differ- 
ent styles and make bear out the theory that the localitj'^ in question has been the 
scene f>f many I'loody battles between different tribes of savages. 

Of the Indian history of our city there is no written record. It is only as the 
laborers of the nineteenth century make their excavations for some great public 
enterprise, the product of our superior civilization, that relics of the former 
inhabitants of this charming valley are brought to light, and these relics viewed by 
scientific and historical students gradually unfold to us the story of the first San 
Antonio immediately succeeding the Stone Age, and just after the mighty monarch 
of the animal kingdom of the past, the mammoth mastodon, whose remains are 
found in nearly every section of Western Texas, roamed through prehistoric forests 
and bathed in the cooling waters of the beautiful San Antonio River. 

SAN ANTONIO IN HISTORY. 

At what time the first settlers came to San Antonio is not known, but hunters 
and Indian traders must have visited the locality during the sixteenth century, and 
carried back glowmg accounts of the natural richness of the country, because we 
find both France and Spain active contestants for the territory as early as l68l), and 
both nai ions had made explorations in Texas and were possessed of considerable 
knowledge concerning it prior to that date. The Count Revilla-Gigedo, Viceroy of 
Mexico, in his official report to the King of Spain, dated December 27, 1793 speaks 
of Texas as a Spanish province in 1G89, and says that in that j'ear the Spanish 
Government sent out an expedition to drive the French invaders from Texas soil. 
Also that in 1691 another expedition was despatched to repel another French army. 
From this report it appears that settlements hail been made some time prior to those 
dates, as both armies made San Antonio their obji'Ctive point. 

In 171 '. St. Denis, H the head of a French force, passed from Nachitoches, La., 
throu'^h San Antonio to Presidio, on the Rio Grande, and laid out what is known 
as '• the old San Antonio road,'' which was the principal trade road through Texas 
to Mexico for over a hundred and fifty years. 

In 1716, the Spanish Government sent out an expedition, in which were nine 
clergymen, headed -by Right Rev. Father Antonio Margil dc Jesus, which party 
founded the missions which now are a part of the attractions of San Antonio, and 
also established a number of military posts. 

In the same y-ar St. Denis and La Harpe organized an expedition for the con- 
quest of Texas. Starting at Nachitoches, La., they proceeded to the po.st of Bexar 
(San Antonio), where they met a Spanish force, which put them to rout, and com- 
pelled them to beat a hasty retreat to Louisiana. 

It is probable that a military post was established at the present site of San 
Antonio in 1716, as this is indicated by the repulse of the St. Denis and La Harpe 
expedition, though some histoiians state that the post of Bexar was estalilishcd by 
De Alarconne in 1718. It is, however, certain that the Spaniards did not establish 
a militiry post in a wilderness, far removed from human settlements, and therefore 
the old town of Sun Fernando, or Bexar, as San Antonio was formerly called, must 
have been settled some lime previous to that date. In 18:J3, the citizens of San 
Antonio sent a public and formal memorial to the general government, in which it 
is stated that the city had then been settled one hundreit and forty j^ears ago, or 
since 1692; this document was signed by a great many of the old and native citizens 
of the place; in the list are the names ox Jose de la Garza, Angel Navarro, Jose Cafe- 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 5 

siano.Mfiiiuel Ximenes, Juan Angel Seguin, JoseM. Zembrano, and Ignacio Arocha — 
names that are prominent on the early land grants of Texas from the Spanish Gov- 
ernment. 

SPANISH COLONISTS. 

The Marquis of Casa Fuerta. who visited the place in a subordinate capacity 
before he became Viceroy, Wiis so much pleased with *he location and its natural 
adviintagesof water, soil, and climate, that he made special exertions to have it popu- 
lated by representatives of the best families of Spain. It was through his influence 
that, in 1730, s-ixteen families arrived from the Canary Islands; the transportation 
of these colonists, consisting of fifly-seven persons, costing the royal treasury, 
according to Kennedy seventy-two thousand dollars. Descendants of these colo- 
nists now- form the old families of this city. The village then took the namrj of San 
Fernando, in honor of King Ferdinand III. of Spain. A Presidio, called Bexar, in 
honor of the Duke of Bexar, then Viceroy, was created November 38, 1730, and 
became the capital of the Province of Texas, 

THE FIRST CHARTER. 

The first Charter held by the present City of San Antonio was granted by the 
authority of the King of Spain, in the year 1733 or 1734, to the people and inhabit- 
ants of the town by the name of San Fernando, In a cause, involving the title to 
the lands lying in the corpurate limi's adjudicated by the Supreme Court of this 
State, in 18")1, the Court uses the following language: 

"Lipscomb, J. — There were several bills of exception taken on the trial, and 
many grounds of error have been presented for our consideration. I propose, 
however, before examining them, to first discuss the grounds on which the corpora- 
tion relies, in support of the claim« it has set up to the lands in controversy. And 
first, the ancient grant. The existence of an ancient deed in the archives of the 
corporation, embracing the lands in controversy, has been proved onclusively. 
That this deed was in the archives, the plnce to which it belonged, as late as the 
year 1834, is also fully proved; that it purported to be absolute and unconditional 
on its face, emanating from the authority of the King of Spain; that it bore date in 
1733 or 1734; that it was sewed or stitchi^d iulo a book, with other papers relating 
to the foundation of the town; that the deed was the last in the book; that on an 
occasion of very great public excitement, when the indignation of the people was 
aroused by what they .supposed to 1)3 an attempted fraud on their rights by their 
delegate to the Congress of Coahuila and ')'exas, Biilmaceda, in procuring a decree 
of the Congress for two leagues of land to the town, the corporate authorities insti- 
tuted a vigilant .search for the deed, and found it, as previously stated; this was in 
the year ]S29. It hns never been seen since 1^34. "' — Seventh Texas Reports, 289. 

The lands sued for were claimed under the above deed, and al-o by a charter 
granted to the City of San Antonio by the Republic of Texas, December 14, 1837. 
The jury found in favor of the title to the city, and the Supreme Court sustained 
the verdict, 

INDIAN TROUBLEg. 

So far as history shows us the Indians of Texas gave the early Franciscan 
Fathers no trouble until the arrival of the Spanish colonists. Indeed, it was by 
Indiau labor that the Fathers built the missions, constructed the long miles of irri- 
gation ditches that thread the valley, and cultivated their crops. Converts were 
made, and peace reigned in the valley of the San Antonio; but in 1730, on the 
arrival of the Spanish coloziists, a change came. The town of San Fernando was 
built near the military plaza, but the frequent attacks of the savages drove the colo- 
nists into ihe bend of the river along the present line of Commerce street, towards 
the location of the present iron bridare, where, protected on three sides by the river 
and with the old Cathedral of San Fernando at the opening of the town plat on the 
land side, they could in their fort-like houses be comparatively safe from their 
savage foes. 

The first Governor of Texas was Juan Antonio Bustillos y Cavallos. "When Bus- 
tiUos reached San Antonio he found the Indians engaged in active hostilities. A 



6 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

league had been formed between the Natchez, the Comanches, and the Apaches to 
expel all Pkiropeaus from the territory between tlie Mississippi and the Rio Grande 
rivers. The Natchez were to drive the French from Louisiana and the other tribes to 
expel the Spaniards from Texas. For two years the Indians continued tholr depre- 
dations upon our people, coming into tue suburbs of the city to rob and murder. It 
is impossible to realize the sufferings to which these pioneers uf civilization were 
subjected. Finally in 1733 the Governor had his civil administration so well organ- 
ized that he felt that he could give some attention to the Indians. H? accordingly 
collected a company of citizen soldiers and marched to the Bandera Pass, a strong 
hold of the Apaches, and severely chastised them ; this for a time secured peace. 

In 1734, Manuel de Sandoval beciime governor. The Imlians had again become 
troublesome, and one of the first acts of Sandoval, who was an old and experi- 
enced soldier, was to organize a military company and chastise them in such a man- 
ner as to secure peace to the settlements. 

In 1736, Sandoval was succeeded by Carlos de Franquis,who was superseded in 
1738 by Justo Boneo. There was a long and harrassing law suit between the two 
governors, the particulars of which may be found detailed in Yoakum's History of 
this period. The ciuarrels of the governors and the death of the Viceroy, connected 
with the confusion in civd affairs and the hostility of the Indians, retarded the 
growth of the city, and fur half a century but little progress was made. 

After Boneothe following were governors of Texas under Spanish rule : In 
1756, Jarequil ; 1762, Navarette ; 1770, Juan Maria, Baron de Ripperda ; 1778, Do- 
mingo Cabelle ; 1789, Raphael Pacheco ; 1790, Manuel Munoz ; 1803, Juan Bautista 
Elquezabal ; 1806, Antonio Cordero. The governors and military commirders 
were men of education and culture, and society in this city was exceptionally good. 

During the first year of Governor Cordcro's administration, he, with General 
Herrera, went to the Sabine to repel the encroachment of the Americans under 
Wilkinson. All parties then expected war with the United States, but Wilkinson is 
supposed to have secured the confidence of Herrera by betraying the scheme of his 
former friend, Aaron Burr ; at any rate peace was secured between the two nations 
by the establishment of a strip of territory on the Arroyo Hondo, known as neutral 
ground. Though war with the United States was thus averted, the city was still 
harrassed by hostile bands of Apaches and Comanches ; the citizens were always 
expecting Indian raids, hence all the public buildings and most of the private dwel- 
lings were built for fortresses, the streets were narrow and crooked, and most of the 
dwellings were located in the bend of the river 6r near the plazas and churches. 

THE FIRST AMERICAN INHABITANTS. 

It is said the first Americans seen in this city were the surviving companions of 
Philip Nolan, who were brought in as prisoners of war en route to the mines of 
Northern Mexico in the year 1801. American traders had probably visited here 
before that time, and the reports of the wonderful climate and productive soil of 
Texas had spread through the United States, and large numbers of adventurous 
spirits were soon attracted here from the North, eager to obtain, by peaceful meas- 
ures or conquest, a share in tbe benefits to be derived from a residence in the won 
der land of the South-west. The Mexican proprietors regarded with open distrust 
and hatred these new comers, and placed every obstacle in their way. The natural 
result of this policy was the organization of filibustering expeditions by the Ameri- 
cans to conquer that which they regarded as the inalienable right of every man. 

FIGHTING BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND ROYALISTS. 

To understand the situation in Texas a little more attention must be given at 
the state of public affairs in Mexico. In 1810, Hidalgo unfurled the revolutionary 
banner. The next year he was deserted, betrayed, captured, and shot at Ciiilmahua, 
by Elisondo, one of his generals, who subsequently figured about San Antonio. 
Our city strongly sympathized with the revolutionary movement, and a number of 
the dispersed chiefs here sought refuge. Colonel Delgado, one of this part}^ was taken 
by the Royalists, beheaded, and his head stuck upon a pole at one of the public 
crossings of tlie river. A son of Delgado, iu company with Don Bernardo Gutierres, 
escaped across the Sabine. 



TH3 ALAMO CITY GUIDE 



THE MAGEE EXPEDITIOX. 



Previoiis to the year 1813 a considerable trade had been carried on from Xew 
Orleans with the northern provinces of Mexico. The port of Matamoros was then 
unknown ; the merchandise from New Orleans and the produce and the silver 
received in exchange were carried on mules through Nacogdoches to the most con- 
venient point on Red River. A. considerable band of lawless adventurers had 
located themselves near the Sabine for the purpose of robbing all the valuables that 
passed from the interior to Nacogdoches. These renegades of all nations had 
become so daring in levying contributions that, although tliey were in the province 
of Texas, the Secretary of War of the United States ordered an expedition sent to 
break up the banditti and punish such as could be brought to justice. Lieutenant 
Augustus W. Mag.^e, of the United States Army, was sent with a considerable force 
and routed the outlaws. While on the march he fell in with Don Bernardo 
Gutierrez, a prominent Mexican who had just been to the United States to raise 
volunteers to aid the Republicans in their struggle with the Royalists. Gutierrez 
was a man of fine manners and great mental accomplishments. The glowing 
account he gave of the struggle then going on in Mexico for the achievement of 
their independence and making Mexico a republic either excited the patriotism or 
fired the ambition of Magee and his little band. As soon as he had carried into 
effect the orders he was sent to execute, Magee resigned his position in the United 
States Army, raised the tlag of the patriots of Mexico, and proceeded to organize a 
small force of volunteers, ostensibly under the command of Gutierrez, but really 
under the control of himself. The expedition was called " The Republican Army 
of the North/' and a league of land and forty-five dollars was promised each 
volunteer. 

By a series of brilliant movements Magee captured Nacogdoches and La Bahia, 
at the latter place capturing also a large amount of money, abundant supplies, and 
sixteen pieces of artillery, mcluding the cannon brought to Texas by La Salle in 
1685. Here they were besieged by General Salcedo, of the Royalist army, and after 
some time Magee became demoralized and stipulated for a surrender, but his men 
unanimously refused to yield and Magee retired to his quarters. Salcedo, enraged 
that the terms of the surrender were not carried out, made a furious assault on the 
town, carrying it by storm, and was proceeding to storm the fort when the 
Americans rallied and charged the Royalists, defeating them with great slaughter. 
That night Magee died by his own hands. 

BATTLE OP THE ROSALIO. 

Major Kemper was now promoted to the command, and in a council of war it 
was agreed to march on San Antonio. The army of the Republicans was reinforced 
by one hundred and seventy volunteers. The army then proceeded towards San 
Antonio, and was joined at the Salado Creek by Captain McFarland with three 
hundred Lipan and Towakana warriors. General Salcedo had received reinforce- 
ments in San Antonio and had sent out his forces to meet the Americans. The {Spanish 
army consisted of fifteen hundred regulars and one thousand volunteers, and they 
lay in ambush on the Rosalio Creek, about nine miles from San Antonio. The 
American army consisted of eight hundred Americans under Colonel Kemper, one 
hundred and eighty Mexicans, under Colonel Manchaca, and three hundred and 
twenty-five Indians. The American or Republican army, anticipating an attack, 
marched in order of battle, and the riflemen discovering the ambush of the enemy, 
fired upon them, when they immediately showed themselves on the crest of the hill, 
about four hundred feet above the Republicans. The battle was at once com- 
menced, but on the first fire of the enemy the Indians, with the exception of 
twenty-five, broke and ran. The Republicans having formed were ordered to 
advance to the charge within thirty steps of the enemy before firing. The com- 
mand was oljcyed in silence, and with such order and coolness that the enemy were 
alarmed and did not even wait for their charge, but broke and fled in the direction 
of San Antonio. They were pursued, and one thousand of them killed, the Indians 
even murdering many after thej'' had surrendered. The Spanish commander, 
previous to leaving San Antonio, had pledged his sword and his head that he 
would either kill or capture the whole of the Republican ariay,. and when he saw 



O THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

his own troops flying, rushed into the American lines, sword in hand, and while 
in the act of raising his swnrd to strike down Colonel Kemper, he was shot by 
Wm. Owens, a [rrivale in Captain Joseph Taj'lor's company. In this way he 
fulfilled his pledge. 

The next day the Republicans marched to this city, which was surrendered to 
them by General Salcedo. AVhen the army took possession of tiie city they released 
seventeen American prisoners, confined in the Alamo, who immediately joined the 
Republicans. The arms, stores, and military chest being captured, the troops were 
paid off — each soldier, besides his pay, receiving a gratuity, of fifteen dollars, a suit 
of clothes, and an order for two horses or mules. The Indians were given two dol- 
lars worth of Vermillion, together with presents to the value of one hundred and 
thirty dollars, and were sent on their way rejoicing. The Royalist soldiers were 
paroled and the officers imprisoned. 

MEXICAN VENGEANCE. 

Gutierres now organized a junta composed of the leading Republicans in the 
city, and assumed control of the administration of civil affairs. It was before this 
junta that Captain Delgado, the son of Colonel Delgado, who had been captured and 
murdered by the Ro^'alists a short time previously and his head placed on a pole at 
one of the crossings of the river, appeared and urged the avenging of his father's death 
by murdering the Royalist officers held as prisoners of war. A secret decree was 
passed to that effect, and under pretence of sending them to New Orleans they were 
marched out cf the city under a guard of Mexicans, commanded by Captain Delgado. 
After proceeding a short distance south of the city they were halted on the river 
bank, stripped, tied, and their throats cut. Thelate'ColonelJ. A. Isavnrro gives the 
following account of this slaughter : " Some of these assassins (Delgado's company), 
with brutal irony, whetted their knives upon the soles of their shoes in the presence 
of their victims. The day following the assassination I myself saw this band of 
murderers, led bj^ their commander, Antonio Delgado, halt in front of the govern- 
ment buildings ; 1 mj'scif heard t;iem inform Bernardo Gutierres that the fourteen 
victims had been put to dea h. The following list comprises the victims : Spaniards 
— General Manuel de Salcedo, Governor of Texas ; Simon de Herrera, Governor of 
New Leon ; Lieutenant Colonel Geronimo Herrera, Captain Juan de Echeverria, 
Captain Josi; Groscochia, Captain Francisco Pereira, Captain Jose Mateos, Captain 
Juan Ignatio Arambido, Lieutenant Gregorio Amado, Antonio Lopez, citizen. 
Mexicans — Captain Miguel de Areos. Lieutenant Louis Areos, Ensign Francisco 
Areos, and Lieutenant Juan Caso.'' The American officers were greatly incensed at 
this outrage, and alter fully fixing the blame where it belonged, Colonel Kemper, 
Major Ross, and others left the army and returned home to the United States 

BATTLE OP THE ALAZAN. 

Released from the strict discipline maintained by the American officers, the army 
bee demoralized and the soldiers devoted themselves to congenial pleasures. 
They were in this condition on the 4th of June, 1813, when Don Y. Elisondo, the 
Royalist general, at the head of fifteen hundred regular troops and about the .same 
number of militia, arrived, and, forming a fortitied camp on the heights of the 
Alazan, to the Avest of the cit)% sent a flag of truce to demand the unconditional 
surrender of the ci!y. A parley ensued, and until the next morning was granted 
the besieged inhabitants to comply with the demand. Captain Perry immediately 
took command of the American forces, and. reinforced by tbe Mexicans under Ber- 
nardo Gutierres and Colonel Manchuca, tliey silently marched out that night to give 
the enemy battle. Having waited in silence until the enemy were at matins, tliey 
furiously charged upon thera. Th-^ Royalists were taken by surprise, and, although 
they fought gallantly, could not withstand the Americans, who charged upon them 
with bayonet and spear. Tlie slaughter was terrible, and after a desperate hand to 
hand fight of several hours the enemy fled, leaving one thousand killed, wounded, 
and prisoner?, the American loss being only forty-seven killed and as many more 
wounded. The Royalists did not stop until they reached the Rio Grande. 

The Americans now dismissed Bernardo Gutierres from the arm}', fearing to be 
further disgraced by his treachery. Soon after the departure of Guiterres Don Jose 
Alvarez Toledo arrived in San Antonio. He was a Cuban by birth, and had been 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 9 

forwarding recruits from New Orleans to San Antonio. He was received by the 
army with great respect, and was elected commander-in-chief. He had scarcely 
restored order to the army before he had news that another arniy from ilexico was 
approaching. This army consisted of about four thousand men under Arredondo, 
who took Ids position on tlie Medina, about twelve miles from the city, and fortified 
himself strongly with decoy breastworks in front in the shape of a >► , with the open 
end towards the city 

BATTLE OF THE MEDINA. 

On the 18th of August, 1813, General Toled'i. at the head of his army, which 
consisted of about three hundred Americans under Captain Perry and about six 
hundred Mexicans under Colonel Manchaca, marched forth to battle. The Ameri- 
cans were rushing forward on the cliarge with great impetuosity when General 
Toledo .saw they were eutering the trap .set by Arredondo, and ordered a retreat, but 
was answered, "Americans never retreat." Tiiey fought with great desperation, 
but were nearly aU cut down while trying to gain possession of the breastworks, 
when deserted by ]\Iusquis and his entire company. The remainder retreated and 
were pursued by Don Y. Elisondo, who, still smarting under his recent defeat, gave 
orders to show no quarter. Seventy or eiglity of these unfortunate men were over- 
taken at the Spanish Bluff, on the Trinity River. They were marched to an island 
of timber at the junction of the San Antonio and La Bahia roads, where a deep 
trencli was dug for a grave, across which a piece of timber wns placed, and the 
prisoners, ten at a time, being forced on it were shot, their bodies fading into the 
trench. Among the victims of this terrible butchery were Colonel Manchaca and 
Captain Antonio Delgado. 

" Twt days after the battl'%" soys Mr. Yoakum, " Arredondo, havinghis wagons 
loaded with wounded and dying, marched in triumph inio San Antonio. Here 
■commenced a scene of barbarity which tliat plaee had never before witnessed. 
Seven hundred of tlie pcacable citizens were seized and imprisoned. Three hun- 
dred W( re confined during the night of the i!(/tli of August in one house, and during 
the niglit eighteen of them died of sulfncation. From dny to day others were shot 
without any form of trial. The cruelly of the Spauisli commander went even fur- 
ther. He had a prison for females. It was insultingly called the Quinia. Here 
five hundred of the wives and daughters of the patriots were imprisoned, and for 
being such they were compelled daily for four raontlis, to convert twenty-four 
bu.?hel-< cf Indian corn into the Mexican c.ikes called tortillas for Arredondo's army. 
After thus having satisfied his appetite for blood and revenge, the Royalist com- 
mander found an opportunity about the 1st of September to collect and bury the 
bones of Salcedo and his stall. By this time Elisondo and his staff had returned 
from the Trinity, driving before him on foot the widows and orphans of those he 
had there slain. The property of the patriots was all confiscated." 

MOSES AUSTIN. 

Arredondo, being the commander of the eastern internal provinces and stationed 
at Monterey, was soon compelled to leave San Antonio for his post of duty in Mexico, 
and was succeeded in command of our city by a succession of Spanish governors, 
who regarded with open hatred ail Americans. It was in the fail of 1820 that the 
city was visited by Moses Austin, a native of Connecticut, but long a resident of 
Missouri, who had for some time' desired to form an American colony in Texas, 
and now sought the sanction of the Mexican government, and desired to procure 
a grant of laud suitable for his purpose. Antonio Martinez was governor at this 
time, and, filled with the customary Spanish jealously, declined to grant the required 
aid, and further ordered Austin to leave Texas immediately on pain of imprison- 
ment should he dare to disobey this order. Disheiu'tened at this treatment, Mr. 
Austin was leaving the governor's residence, when he met Baron de Bastrop, whom 
he had met in Louisiana, and enlisluig him in his cause the two returned to the 
governor's presence, and after son.e delay succeeded in obtaining a reconsideration 
of the harsh denial, and a favorable g ant of land, which was ratified by the general 
government, and although JVIoses Austin did not live to see the fruition of his hopes, 
his son, Stephen Fuller Austin, carried them out to a successful termination, and 
founded the first permanent Americaa colony in Texas. 



10 THE AliAMO CITY GUIDE. 

HAKDSniPS SUFFERED BY THE CITIZENS. 

The success of the revolution in Mexico in 1824 led to the adoption of a new 
constitution by which Texas was attached to Coahuila, and Saltillo became the 
capital of the State. By this means San Antonio lost the govurnor and the asses- 
sor or judicial counsellor, the latter officer being a very important one and having 
to be frequently consulted, which could only be done by taking a journey of over 
six hundred miles through the wilderness, where the traveller was constantly beset by 
savages and robbers. The many hardships endured by the inhabitants of our city at 
that time can be imagined, when it is stated that in ten years' time ninety-seven of them 
were murdered by Indians, and the city itself was constantly menaced by the sav- 
ages. They also suffered from a lack of schools, and even as late as 1832 there was 
but one school in the city, the teacher of which being only retained by the patrons 
paying him twenty-five dollars a month. 

COLONEL JAMES BOWIE. 

In the face of all these hardships a number of Americans became citizens of San 
Antonio and engaged in trade and agricultural pursuits near the city, and in 1830 
the celebrated Colonel James Bowie and his brother, Renzie P. Bowie, were num- 
bered among the citizens. Colonel Bowie married a daughter of Don Yerameudi, of 
this ciry, and resided in the Veramendi House, on Soledad street, near the present 
county court house. Colonel Bowie was a native of Georgia. He was about six 
feet in height; of fair complexion; small blue eyes; not fleshy, but well propor- 
tioned; he stood quite erect, and had a fierce look; was not quarrelsome, but mild 
and quiet even at the moment of action. He was quite sociable, and somewhat dis- 
posed to intemperance, but was never drunk. lie had a wonderful ait of winning 
people to him, and was extremely prodigal of his money. He was very muscular, 
and of his bravery and nerve there is no question. He was the hero of many duels 
and deeds of daring, tiie record of which would require the limits of a large volume. 
He was the inventor or originator of the bowie knife. His glorious death at the 
massacre of the Alamo entitles him to a high place on the roll of fame. 

DEAF SMITH. 

Erastus Smith (known as Deaf Smitli, because he was hard of hearing) was the 
son of Chiliah and Mary Smith, and was born in New York on the I'Jth of April, 
1787. At the age of eleven years he emigrated with his parents to the Mississippi 
Territory, and settled near Natchez. His parents were exemplary members of the 
Baptist Church, and gave him such moral and intellectual training as the circum- 
stances by which they were surrounded would permit. He first came to Texas in 
1817, perhaps with some of the patriot forces that were constantly arriving in the 
province at that time. He soon, however, returned home, but in 18;!1 he again came 
to Texas for the purpose of making it his home. This he did, never leaving it 
again. He was in the country before Austin, but in what section is not known. 
His nature was to ramble alone over the plains, and to be by himself. When De- 
Witt's settlement was commenced at Gonzales, Smith went with the first company. 
He did not remain there long, but proceeded to San Antonio, where he married a 
Mexican lady, by whom he had several children. He had a fine property at Grand 
Gulf, Mississippi, but did not attend to it. One of his sons, Trinidad Travis Smith, 
was educated by R A. Martin, Esq., of Baldwin, Mississippi. Deaf Smith died at 
Fort Bend, November 30, 1837. He was a man of remarkable gravity and of few 
words. In fact, he seldom answered at all except in monosyllables. When he 
spoke it was always to the point. His coolness in danger and battle was unsur- 
passed. The Texan army was greatly favored in having his services as a spy. He 
was a "dead shot,' and the warm personal friend of General Sam Houston. A 
number of his descendants now reside in this city. 

MEXICAN TYKANNY. 

The Constitution of 1824 fully recognized the rights of the American colonists 
in Texas, and afforded them ample protection, but with the changes in the govern' 
ment — the result of frequent revolutions in Mexico — the policy of the Mexican 
rulers towards the colonists was radically changed, and a system of tyrannical 



THE ALAMO CITY GTIIDE. 11 

exactions was commenced, which finally culminated in open hostility and the taking 
from the pioneers their lands and otlier property; and, finally, that they leave the 
homes which they had made for themselves at the cost of so many hardships and 
trials in the then wilderness of Texas. This was the straw whicii broke the camtl's 
back, and the hardy colonists revolted against the direct vif)lHtion of the pledges of 
the government and the violation of their constitutional rights. From this time, 
therefore, until after the fall of the Alamo and tlic promulgation of the declaration 
of independence, they were in arms to secure the reenactment of theconstiiution of 
1824, and in this period some of the most important battles which ever were fought 
in Texas occurred. 

To secure possession of Texas, early in 1835 General Ugartechea, with about 
five hundred soldiers, was sent to San Antonio. On the 3d of September he 
issued an order for the arrest of certain citizens whose zeal in the Republican cause 
rendered them especially obnoxious to the Centrali«*ts. They were Lorenzo de 
Zavalla, R. ?r. Williamson, Wm. B. Travis, Mosely Baker, J. M. Caravahal, Juan 
Zembrano, Frank W. Johnson, John H. Moore, and Robert H. Williams. This 
order exhibits in its true light the desi)otic power exercised by the military satraps 
of Santa Anna. 

THE TRODDEN "WORM. 

Ugartechea was soon superseded by General Martin Prefecto de Cos, a brother- 
in-law of Santa Anna, who about the last of September arrived in this city at the 
head of an army of five hundred men. The demand of Cos for the post^ession of a 
small cannon owned by the town of Gonzales, and the subsequent repulse of the 
body of troops sent to take it, roused the war spirit of the colonists to the highest 
pitch, and a force was kept under arms at Gonzales, but without a recognized leader 
until the arrival of General Stephen F. Austin, on the 10th of October. 

The colonists now determined that their only safety lay in the capture of San 
Antonio, the ancient capital of Texas, and the headquartc's of their enemy, and on 
the 20th of October General Austin moved his little army towards our city and 
camped at the Mission San Francisco de la Espada, a few miles south of the city. 
Cos was busily occupied in strengthening his fortifications, barricading the streets, 
and preparing for the assault. He had about one thousand men, and was looking 
for reinforcements. General Austin's force was about six hundred men. The latter 
despatched a fiag of tru^e to the enemy, but Cos refused to recognize General Austin 
and peaceful interchanges became impracticable. It was reserved for the sword 
and deadly bullet to procure a recognition of their constitutional rights. Occasional 
skirmishes took place between small detachments of the two armies, but were of 
slight effect. 

BATTLE OP MISSION CONCEPCION, 

On the 27th of October General Austin ordered Colonel James Bowie and Cap- 
tain J. W. Fannia to proceed with ninety men to make a reconuoissance about the 
old missions and select a more eligible and proximate position for the army. In 
obedience to this order they immediately started out, and passing the missions of 
San Juan Capistran, six miles below the city, and San Jose de Aguayo, four miles 
below the city, they reached the Mission Concepcion, la Purissima de Acuna, about 
two miles south of the city. There they encamped for the night and reposed in 
peace. The morning of the 28th revealed the startling fact that they were sur- 
rounded on three sides by the enemy, the river making a sharp bend and forming 
an obtuse triangle, and fordable at several points, being on the other side. To cross 
it and retreat over an open prairie in the face of the city was almost certain destruc- 
tion. A desperate fight in their present position presented their only hope for 
relief. They therefore descended into the river bottom, an irregular depression of 
from six to ten feet, and well covered with timber, and about one hundred yards 
wide, to the banks of the San Antonio River. The prairie in front, occupied by the 
enemy, was a level plain, and from their natural covert the riflemen could fire and 
reload without being fully exposed. 

The enemy's infantry advanced imposingly with trailed arms, hut halted about 
two hundred yards from the bluff, and opened a general fire. While the air was 
illumined by their rapid and random discharges the rifles of the patriots coolly, 



12 THE Alamo city guide. 

delib2rately, and fatally sent forth their deadlj' missiles. The Mexicans then Dushed 
forward thdr brass six pounder, escorted by a corps of cavalry, to within eighty 
yards cf the Americans, and sounded a charge, but unerring rifles soon swept away 
the gunners and halted the charging column. The cannon was fired live times 
without effect, and was three times cleared of men, while three distinct charges 
were repulsed. About this time the patriots made up their minds to capture the 
cannon, and the resolutio::! had scarcely assumed an active form when the enemy 
precipitately retreated, leaving the gun and its muniLions witli the victors. 

The Mexicans numbered about four hundred men, and the patriots ninety-two, 
including ofQcers. The Mexican loss was sixty killed and forty wounded.' The 
patriots lost one man (Robert Andrews), killed. Colonel Bowie had dc-patched a 
messenger to General Austin as soon as the enemy was discovered, and the army 
had advanced "\'itli all practicable haste to the scene of the conflict, but did not 
arrive until the Mexicans had retreated. A permanent camp was now established 
near the city. 

THE GRASS FIGHT. 

General Cos was still beleaguered in the stronghold of Bexar(San Antonio). He 
was expecting a reinforcement from ilatamorasof five hundred men under the brave 
Colonel Ugartechea. The Texaus wltc apprised of the fact and on the alert. On 
the 2Glh of November a reconuoileraig paiiy returned from the JMedina liivir, leav- 
ing the ever vigilant Deaf Smith behind to prosecute h;s researches. On the same 
day Cos had sent a foraging party of about one hundred soldiers to rut grass for 
the Mexican cavalry. When abou. five miles from town Siuiih &aw thjm, and, 
supposing it was the advance guard of the expected niuforcemeuts, ha.stened to 
camp wiih the information. Colonel James Bowie and about a hundred others 
were promptly in the saddle and off on a gallop. The enemy, then a mile from 
town and in lull view, took shelter in a ravine ; and us Bowie was on the point of 
charging them a still laiger force was approaching from the fort. Bjwie turned 
suddenly to receive the new comers, and simultaneously a paity c.me in sight from 
the patriots' camp. These prompiljr charged the foragers and drove them irom the 
ravine. The enemy then retreated, fighting, beture Bowie. As tue routed foragers 
joined their comrades the retreat became general and more prejipitaie, untd the 
battle was continued to the city, and the MexiciiiiS found suelter under their 
entrenched artillery, which opened an ineffectual fire our ui)on brave voiunteers. 
The cuntending forces were about equal — some three huutlr d iiien each. The 
enemy lost fifty men killed and several wounded. The Tlxuus had two wounded 
and one missing. This random, running battle is called the grass right from its 
having begun with the foragers. It was only the agility of the enemy -which 
prevented more impoitant issues. 

These successes, though small in themselves, created a warm enthusiasm in the 
United States. They struck the chords of sympathy in the evtr sensitive city of 
New Orleans with peculiar emphasis. It and the btate of Mississipi)i had alieady 
Bent to our aid two gallant companies called *" Greys," under the command of Cap- 
tain Robert C. Morris and Captain Breeze — the first entering Texas by the Gulf of 
Mexico, and the other by way of Nachitoches. These admirable troops, the first 
fruits of a kindred nation's sympathy, eventually swelled the holocaust of Goliad, 
or were, some of them, sacrificed with the party of Dr. Grant. The soldierlj' appear- 
ance of Breeze's company at Nacogdoches very sensibly impressed the noted Chero- 
kee chief, Bowles, and his braves, and contributed to restrain them from any active 
participation in the impending struggle. The sympathies of the Cberokees were 
with 31exico, but their more potent tears were concentrated on the American rifles. 

BATTLE OF SAX ANTONIO. 

General Austin, having been appointed a commissioner to the United States, 
resigned his military commission and took leave of the army bufore ban Antonio 
and returned to San Felipe on the 2Uth of November. Colonel Edward Burleson 
was elected without opposition to the command of the besieging armj-. He pro 
secuted the siege with unabated vigor. Colonel Frank W. Johnson, Adjutant Gen- 
eral, and P. W. Grayson and "Wm. T. Austin, aids de-camp, composing his staff. 
The investment of the town had been prolonged for near three months, under many 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 13 

privations and discomforts, the troops being exposed to the weather and having the 
prospect of a wet and inclement season before them. These Texas troops, it must 
be remembered, were men who had literally left the plough in the furrow to go forth 
to repel a savage invader. Theii? families were utterly unprovided for, and the 
troops were without pay or regular rations. Neither were they provided the mod- 
ern necessaries of a military camp. No term of enlistment lield them at their post 
and naught but pure patriotism kept them together. What wonder was it, there- 
fore, as the winter season came upon them, that many left the camp to attend to 
the pressing wants of the loved ones at home. 

The situation for the Texans was fast becoming critical, and in this juncture 
General Burleson resolved to change his mode of reducing the enemy and trust 
everything to a short, sharp, and decisive struggle for the possession of the coveted 
city. Witli this view the army was paraded, and after a stirring address from 
Colonel ^Y. II. Jack, a call was made for volunteers. Four hundred and fifty men, 
including the New Orleans Greys, advanced to the frum and their names were 
enrolled. It was decided to make the attack in three divisions at dawn the next 
morning, December 3. But during the night the scouts reported a man had been 
seen passing from the camp to the town, and this caused the troops to suspect 
that the enemy were apprised of their plans. Many now dipseuted from the 
project and threatened to leave unless it was abandoned. Under these circum- 
stances General Bui leson countermanded the order for the assault, and thought of 
falling back on Goliad. On the same evening three citizens, Messrs. Maverick, 
Holmes, and Smith, wiiohad been held in duress in the town, were released by Gen- 
eral Cos, and arrived in camp. The minute and encouraging information they gave 
relative to the garrison, their defence and police, changed the feelings of the Texans, 
and on the next day Colonel Benjamin 11 Milam, " an intrepid son of the dark and 
bloody land," suggested to General Burleson to take advantage of the enthusiasm 
caused by these representations and storm the city without delay. General Burle- 
son cheerfully assented, and Colonel Milam, standing in front oc General Burleson's 
quarters, gave a loud hurrah, and attracting the troops about him, announced that 
Old Ben Milam was going into San Antonio, and called for volunteers to accompany 
him. With a shout the soldiers rallied to him, and four hundred formed in line 
and were enrolled, the remainder agreeing to remain as a reserve corps and give him 
all the assistance in their power. Colonel Milam was chosen to lead the assault, and 
at two o'clock the next morning three hundred brave spirits assembled at the old 
mill. The story of the daring assault, mrrepid bravery of the Texans, and their 
glorious victory, is best told in the official reports, which we give in full. 

Headquarters Volunteer Army, \ 
Bexar, December 14, 1835. ) 
To His Excellency, the Provisional Governor of Texas: 

Sir: I have the satisfaction to inclose a copy of Colonel Johnson's account of 
the storming and surrender of San Antonio de Bexar, to which I have little to add 
that can in any way increase the lustre of this brilliant achievement to the Federal 
arms of the volunteer army under my command, and which will, I trust, prove the 
downfall of the last position of military despotism on our soil of freedom. 

At three o'clock on the morning of the 5th instant, Colonel Neil, with a piece 
of artillery, protected by Captain Roberts and his company, was sent across the 
river to attack, at five o'clock, the Alamo, on the north side, to draw the attention 
of the enemy Irom the advance of the divisions, which had to attack the suburbs of 
the town, under Colonels Milam and Johnson. This service was effected to my 
entire satisfaction, and the party returned to camp at nine o'clock A.M. 

On the advance of the attacking divisions I formed all the reserve, with the 
exception of the guard necessary to protect the camp, at the old mill position, and 
held mjself m readiness to advance, in case of necessity, to assist when required; 
and shortly afterwards passed into the suburbs to reconnoitre, where I found all 
g(;ing on prosperously, and retired with the reserve to camp. Several parties were 
sent out, mounted, under Captains Cheshire, Coleman, and Roberts, to scour the 
country to endeavor to intercept Ugartechea, who was expected, and ultimately 
forced an entry with reinforcements for General Cos. Captains Cheshire, Suther- 
land, and Lewis, with their companies, were sent in as reinforcements to Colonel John- 



14 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

son durinpf the period of attack ; and Captains Splann and Rulh and Lieutenant 
Borden, with tlieir companies, together with Lieutenant Colonels Somerville and 
Sublett, were kept in readiness for further assistance, if required. On the evening 
of the 8th, a party of about fifty men from the Alamo passed up in front of our 
camp and opened a brisk fire, but without effect. They were soon obliged to retire 
precipitately, by having a six-pounder, commanded by Captain Hummiugs. opened 
on them, by sending a party across the river, and by the advance of Captain Brad- 
ley's company, who were stationed above. 

On the morning of the 9th, in consequence of advice from Colonel Johnson of 
a flag of truce having been sent in to intimate a desire to capitulate, I proceeded to 
town, and by two o'clock A.M. of the 10th, a treaty was finally concluded by the 
commissioners appointed, to wliich I acceded immediately, deeming the terms 
highly favorable, considering the strong position and large force of the enemy, 
which could not be less than thirteen hundred ett'ective men— one thousand one 
hundred and five having left this morning with General Cos, besides three compa- 
nies and several small parties which separated from him in consequence of the fourth 
article of the treaty. 

In addition to the treaty (marked No. 1) I inclose a list (No. 2) of all the valu- 
able property ceded to us by virtue of the capitulation. 

General Cos left this morning for the Mission of San Jose, and to-morrow 
commences his march to the Kio Grande, after complying with all that had been 
stipulated. 

I cannot conclude this despatch without expressing in the warmest terms my 
entire approbation of every ofiicer and soldier in the army, and particularly those 
who so gallantly volunteered to storm the town, which 1 have the honor to com- 
mand, and to say that their bravery and zeal on the present occasion merit the 
warmest eulogies which I can confer, and the gratitude of their country. The gal- 
lant leader of the storming party, Colonel Benjamin R. Milam, fell gloriously on 
the third day, and his memory will be dear to Texas as long as there exists a grate- 
ful heart to feel his worth, or a friend of liberty to lament his loss. His place was 
most ably filled by Colonel F. W. Johnson, Adjutant General of the army, whose 
coolness and prudence, united to daring bravery, could alone have brought matters 
to so successful an end, with so very small a hjss, against so superior a force, and 
such strong fortifications To his shining merits on this occasion 1 bore ocular tes- 
timony during the five days' action. 

I have also to contribute my praise to Major Bennet, Quartermaster-General, for 
the diligence and success with which he supplied both armies during the siege and 
storm. 

These despatches, with a list of the killed and wounded, will be handed to your 
Excellency by my first aid de-camp. Colonel William T. Austin, who was present as 
a volunteer during the five days' storm, and whose conduct on this and every other 
occasion merits my warmest praise. 

To-morrow I leave the garrison and town under command of Colonel Johnson, 
with a sufficient number ot men and officers to sustain the same, in case of attack, 
until assisted from the colonies; so that your Excellency may consider our conquest 
as sufficiently secured against every attempt of the enemy. The rest of the army 
will retire to their homes. 

I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient servant, 

Edward Burlesox, 
Commander-in-chief of the Volunteer Army. 

To General Burleson, Commander in-chief of the Federal Volunteer Army of 
Texas. 

Sir : I have the honor to acquaint you that, on the morning of the oth in.st., 
the volunteers for the storming of the city of Bexar (San Antonio), possessed by the 
troops of General Cos, entered the suburbs in two divisions, under the command of 
Colonel Benjamin K. Milam. The first division under his immediate command, 
aided by Major II. C. Morris, and the second under my command, aided by Colonels 
Grant and Austin, and Adjutant Brister. 

The first division, consisting of the companies of Captains York, Patton, 
Llewellyn, Crane, English, and Landrum, with two pieces and fifteen artillerymen, 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 15 

commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Franks, took possession of the house of Don 
Antonio de la Garza. The second division, composed of the companies of Captains 
Cooke, Swisher, Edwards, Alley, Duncan, Peacock, Breeze, and Placido Benavides, 
took possession of the house of Don Veramendi. The last division was exposed for 
a short time to a very heavy fire of grape and musketry from the whole of the 
enemy's line of fortiticatiou, until the guns of the tirst division opened their fire, 
when the enemy's attention was directed to both divisions. At sevcni o'clock a 
heavy cannonading from the town was secon led by a well directed fire from 
the Alamo, which for a time prevented the possibility of covering our lines or 
effecting a safe communication between the two divisions. In consequence of the 
twelve-pounder having been dismounted, and the want of proper cover for the gun, 
little execution was done during the day. We were, therefore, reduced to a close 
and well directed fire from our rifles, which, notwithstanding the advantageous posi- 
tion of the enemy, obliged them to slacken their fire, and several times to abandon 
their artillery within the range of our shot. Our loss during this day was one pri- 
vate killed, one colonel and one first lieutenant severely wounded, one colonel 
slightly, three privates dangerously, six severely, and three slightly. During the 
"Whole night the two divisions were occupied in strengthening their positions, open- 
ing trenches, and effecting a safe communication, although exposed to a heavj^ cross 
fire from the enemy, which slackened towards morning. I may remark that the 
want of proper tools rendered this undertaking doubly arduous. 

At daylight on the 6th, the enemy were observed to have. occupied the tops of 
the houses in our front, where, under the cover of breast-works, they opened 
through loop holes a very brisk fire of small arms on our whole line, followed by a 
steady cannonading from the town, in front, and the Alamo on the left flunk, with 
few interruptions during the day. A detachment of Captain Crane's company, 
under Lieutenant W. McDonald, followed by others, gallantly possessed themselves, 
under a severe fire, of the house to the right, and in advance of the first division, 
"which considerably extended our line ; while the rest of the army was occupied in 
returning the enemy's fire and strengthening our trenches, which enabled our artil- 
lery to do some execution, and complete a safe communication from right to left. 
Our loss this day amounted to three privates severely wounded and two slightly. 
During the night the fire from the enemy was inconsiderable, and our p^op'e "were 
occupied in making and filling sand-bags and otherwise strengthening our lines. 

At dayliglit on the 7th it was discovered that the enemy had, during the night 
previous, opened a trench on the Alamo side of the river, and on the left flank, as 
well as strengthening their battery on a cross street leading to the Alamo. From 
the first they opened a bri«k fire of small arms ; from the last a heavy cannonade, 
as well as small arms, which was kept up until eleven o'clock, when they w'ere 
silenced by our superior fire. About twelve o'clock Henry Cams, of Captain York's 
company, exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, gallantly advanced to a house la 
front of the first division, and with a crowbar forced an entrance, into which the 
whole of the company immediately followed him and made a secure lodgment. In 
the afternoon the enemy renewed a heavy fire from all the positions wiiich could 
bear upon us, and at half-past three o'clock, as our gallant commander, Colonel 
Milam, was passing into the yard of my position (the Veramendi house) he received 
a rifle shot in the head which caused his instant death, an irreparable loss at so criti- 
cal a moment. Our casualties otherwise, during this day, were only two privates 
slightly wounded. At a meeting of the ofBcers, held at seven o'clock, I was invested 
with the chief command, and Major Morris as my second. At ten o'clock P.M , 
Captains Llewellyn, English, Crane, and Landrum, with their respective companies, 
forced their way into and took possession of the house of Don J. Antonio Navarro, 
an advanced and important position close to the square. The fire of the enemy was 
interrupted and slack during the night, and the weather exceedingly cold and wet. 

The morning of the 8th continued cold and wet, and but little firing on either 
eide. At nine o'clock the same companies which took possession of Don J. Antonio 
Navarro's house, aided by a detachment of the Greys, advanced and occupied Zem- 
brano's Row, leading to the square, without any accident. The brave conduct, on 
this occasion, of William Graham, of Cooke s company of Greys, merits mention. 
A heavy fire of artillery and small arms was opened on this position by the enemy, 
"who disputed every inch of ground, and, after suffering a severe loss in ofiicers and 



16 THE ALAMO CITY GCIDE. 

men, were obliged to retire from room to room until at last they evacuated the whole 
house. During this time our men were reinforced by a detachment from York's 
company under Lieutenant Gill. The cannonading from the camp was exceedingly 
heavy from all quarters during the day, but did no essential damage. Our lots con- 
sisted of one captain seriously wounded, and two privates severely. At sev-en 
o'clock P. 31 , the party in Zembrano's Row were reinforced by Caiitains Swisher, 
Alley, Edwnrd.-;, and Duncan, and their respective companies. This evening we 
had undoubted information of the arrival of a strong reinforcement to the enemy, 
under Colonel Ugartechea. At half past ten o'clock P. ]\I , Captains Cooke and Pat- 
ton, with tlie company of New Orleans Greys and a company of Brazoria volunteers 
forced their way into the priest's house in the squaie (Main Plaza), although 
exposed to the fire of a battery of tliese guns and a large body of nmsketeers. 
Before this, Iiowevcr, tin; division was reinforced from the reserve by Captains 
Cheshire, Lewis, and Sutherland, with their companies. Immediately after we got 
possession of the i>riest's house the enemy opened a furious cannonade from all their 
batteries, accompanied by incessant volleys of small arms, against every boui-e in 
our possession and every ]>art of our lines, which continued unceasingly until half- 
past six o'clock A.'M. of the 9th, when tlicy sent a flag of truce, with an intimation 
that they desired to capitulate. Cummissicners were mimediately named ny both 
parties, and herewith I accompany you a copy of the terms agreed upon. Our loss 
in this night attack consisteJ of ( ne man only, Belden, of the Greys, danger- 
ously wounded while in the act of spiking a cannon. 

To attempt to "give you a faint idea of the intrepid conduct of the gallant citi- 
zens who formed the divi-ion under my command, during the whole period of 
attack, would be a task of no common nature, and far a'oove the puw.er of my pen. 
All behaved with the bravery peculiar to freemen, and with a decision becoming 
the sacred cause of liberty. To signalize every individual act of gallantry, where 
no individual was found wanting to himself or to his country, would be a useless 
and endless effort. E/ery man has merited my warmest approbation, and deserves 
his country's gratitude. 

The memory of Colonel Benjamin R. Milam, the leader of this daring and suc- 
cessful attack, deserves to be cherished by every patriotic bosom in Texas. I feel 
indebted to the able assistance of Colonel Grant (severely wounded the first day), 
Colonel Austin, ISIajors Morris and Moore, Adjutant Brislow, Lieuttuant-Colonel 
Franks, of the artillery, and every captain, names already given, who entered with 
either division, from the morning of the 5th until the day of capitulation. Doctors 
Levy and Pollard also deserve my Avarmest praise for their unremitted attention and 
assiduity. D:)Clor Cameron's conduct, during the siege and treaty of c:ipitulalion, 
merits particular mention. The guides, Erastus Smith, Norwich, Arnold, and 
John W. Smith, performed important service; and I cannot conclude without 
expressing my thanks to the reserve under your command for such assistance as 
could be afforded during our most critic il movements. 

The period put to our present war by the fall of San Antonio de Bexar will, I 
trust, be attended with all the happy results to Texas which her warmest friends 
could desire. 

1 have the honor to subscribe myself, your most obedient servant. 

F. W. Jouxsox, Cuioncl Com'g. 

The following is a copy of the terms of the capitulation entered into between 
General Burleson and General Cos : 

" Being desirous of preventing the further effusion of blood and the ravages of 
civil war, we have agreed on the following stipulations: 

"1st. Tliat Geni-ral Cos and his officers retire with their arms and private 
property into the interior of the Republic under parole of honor; and that they will 
not in any way oppose the re-estabiishment of the federal constitution of 1824. 

"2d. That t e one hundred infuntry lately arrived with the convicts, the rem- 
nant of the battalion of ^lortdos, and the cavalry, retire with the General, taking 
their arms and ten rounds of ammunition cartridges for their muskets. 

"3d. That the General take the convicts brought in by Colonel Ugartechea 
beyond the Rio Grande. 

" 4th. That it is discretionary with the trooj^s to follow their General, remain, 




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A BONANZA FOB SALE. 

♦ 

The illustration on the preceding page, and which also is the fron- 
tispiece of this book, gives an excellent view of the historic Alamo, 
the ThermopylcTe of America, as it is to-day. When the memorable 
sacrifice of 1836 Avas complete, and bodies of the heroic martA'rs had 
been partially reduced to aslies, the bloodthirsty Santa Anna marched 
his troops East to meet their richly-merited doom, leaving the Alamo 
a battle-scarred ruin. Fourteen years later, the Church Building, that 
which is now known as The Alamo, was rebuilt in its present condi- 
tion on the old walls, and the Convent Building was used by the 
United States as a Quartermaster's Depot. On the completion of the 
present United States Quartermaster's Depot and Military Head- 
quarters, a few years since, the United States Government ga^-e up its 
lease of the property, and the late 

a native of La Belle France, and a leading citizen and wealthy mer- 
chant of San Antonio, a princely benefactor of many local institutions, 
of unbounded liberality and great public spirit, as well as business 
enterprise, purchased from the Roman Catholic Church the Convent 
Building and yard, and altered it at great expense into its present 
form, converting it into an immense Wholesale and Retail Store, 
where he continued up to the time of his death, in the carlv part of 
1882, to do a business in Groceries, Provisions, Dry Goods, Queensware, 
Glassware, Boots, Shoes, Whiskeys, Wines, Beer, Cigars, Tobacco, and 

lountry Produce, second to none in this citv. Besides purchasing the 
Convent Building and yard, Mr. Grenet leased the old Alamo itself 
for a term of ninety-nine years, and converted it into a Warehouse, 
adjoining his immense Store. 

Since the decease of Mr. Grenet, his Executor, MAJOR JOSEPH 
E. DWYER, has successfully carried on the immense business thus 
left in his charge, and is now settling the estate as rapidlvas possible, 
and as one part of his duty he now offers this mammoth Store, 

to the purchaser of its valuable and constantly kept-up stock of Goods, 
together with the lease of THE ALAMO, and the goodwill of the 
business, so long and so profitably enjoyed by its deservedly popular 
founder. 

The location on Alamo Plaza, and with an extensive frontage on 
East Houston Street, also facing Avenues D and E, and with the 
Street Cars pass'ng it every few minutes during the day, and until 
late at night, makes this one of the most eligible business sites in San 
Antonio. This property will prove to be (i Genuine Honamxa 
to its purchaser or lessee. For terms and further particulars, address 

MAJOR JOSEPH E. DWYER, Executor Grenet Estate, 
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 17 

or go to sucli point as tbey may deem proper; but in case they should all or any of 
them separate, they are to have their arms, etc. 

"5th. That all public property, money, arms, and munitions of war be inven- 
toried and delivered to General Burleson. 

" 6th. That all private property be restored to its proper owners. 

" 7th. That three officers of each army be appointed to make out the inventory, 
and see that the terms of the capitulation be carried into effect. 

" 8th. That three officers on the part of General Cos remain for the purpose of 
delivering over the said property, stores, etc. 

" 9th. That General Cos with his force, for the present, occupy the Alamo, and 
General Burleson with his force occupy the town of Bexar (San Antonio), and that 
the soldiers of neither party pass to the other, armed. 

'10th. General Cos shall, within six days from the date hereof, remove his 
force from the garrison he now occupies. 

" nth. In addition to the arms before mentioned, General Cos shall be per- 
mitted to take with his force a four-pounder and ten rounds of powder and ball. 

" 12th. The officers appointed to make the inventory and delivery of the stores, 
etc., shall enter upon the duties to which they have been appointed forthwith. 

" 13th. The citizens shall be protected in their persons and property. 

" 14th. General Burleson will furnish General Cos with such provisions as can 
be obtained, necessary for his troops to the Rio Grande, at the ordinary price of 
the country. 

" 15th. The sick and wounded of General Cos's army, together with a surgeon 
and attendants, are permitted to remain. 

" 16th. No person, either citizi n or soldier, to be molested on account of his 
political opinions hitherto expressed. 

" 17th. Thai duplicates of this capitulation be made out in Castilian and Eng- 
lish, and signed by the commissioners appointed, and ratified by the commanders 
of both armies." 

More liberal terms than these were never extended to a fallen foe, especially 
when that foe had for six days exposed the red and black flags. 

THE THERMOPYL.1E OP AMERICA. 

During this time Santa Anna had been extending his conquests all over 
Mexico, until Texas alone held out against his power and in favor of a Republic. 
Texas lie now determined to conqusr, and at the head of his victorious army, 
trained by long service in the field, and well provided and equipped with arms and 
munitions of war, he rapidly marched into Texas, and proceeding towards our city 
without meeting any serious hindrance, a detachment of his troops reached the 
heights of the Alamo overlooking the city on the 22d day of February, 1S36, when 
Colonel Wm. Barrett Travis, with one hundred and forty-five effective men, 
among whom were numbered Colonel James Bowie and David Crockett, retired to 
the Alamo. 

[For a description of the Alamo and its armament, see account under head of 
the missions ] 

THE SIEGE. 

First day. — The advance guard of Santa Anna's army arrived on the 22d of 
February, 1^3(5, and the next day Santa Anna arrived, bearing the red flag, which 
he displayed from the tower of the Cathedral of San Fernando, between the Main 
and Military Plazas, and in plain si.irht of the Alamo. He then sent a summons to 
the Texans to surrender, but was answered by a cannon shot. This day Colonel 
Travis secured eighty bushels of corn and twenty or thirty beeves. 

Second day. — The Mexicans bombarded the Alamo without effect. Colonel 
Travis sent out couriers to Goliad and Washington, Texas, for reinforcements. In 
his despatches he said: " I shall never surrender or retreat." 

Third day. — Santa Anna moved his headquarters across the river and made a 
personal reconnoissance. The Texans opened on the reconnoitering party with 
their batteries, killing two of the party and wounding six others. Late at night 
some of the Texans sallied out and burned some wooden buildings, behind which 
the Mexicans had taken a position. 



18 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

Foiirtb day. — The Mexicans made an unsuccessful attempt to divert the water 
from the ditches which supplied the Alamo with water. That night the Texans 
burned some wooden buildings north of tbe Alamo. 

Fifth day. — The bombardment was continued without effect. 

Sixth day. — Col. Travis sent out John N. Seguin and a corporal to hurry up 
reinforcements from Goliad. 

Seventh day. — The bombardment was continued without effect. 

Eighth day. — Thirty-two citizen soldiers from Gonzales reinforced the besieged 
Texans. In the afternoon a twelve-pound shot from the Alamo struck the house 
occupied by Santa Anna. 

Ninth day. — The bombardment was vigorously continued, but with no casualties 
for the Texans. 

Tenth day. — Colonel Bonham, who had been sent to Goliad for reinforcements, 
re-entered the Alamo, beating word that no aid might be expected from that quarter. 
The bombardment was continued. Colonel Travis now made his last appeal for aid, 
this time to the Convention, and sent it by J. W. Smith, the guide who had con- 
ducted the Gonzales party to the Alamo. Smith left the Alamo at midnight, and 
crawled stealthily upon his hands and knees until safely beyond the Mexican lines. 
As he departed Colonel Travis said to him: " Every morning at daybreak I will fire a 
cannon as a sign that we still hold the fort, but when that cannon is heard no more 
its silence will tell that the Alamo has fallen." The following is supposed to be the 
letter which Smith bore. It is dated the 3d of March, 18:^J: 

"From the 25th to the present date the enemj' have kept up a bombardment from 
two howitzers (one a live and a-half-inch and the other an eight-inch), and a heavy 
cannonade from two long nine-pounders mounted on a battery on the opposite side 
of the river, at the distance of four hundred j^ards from our walls. During this 
period the enemy have been busily employed in encircling us with intrenched 
encampments at the following distances: In Bexar, 400 yards west ; in La Villeta, 300 
yards south; at the powder-house, l.O'iO yards east by south; on the ditch, 800 yards 
northeast, and at the old mill, 800 yards north. Notwithstanding all this, a com- 
pany of thirty two men from Gonzales made their way to us on the morning of the 
1st inst., at three o'clock, and ("olonel J. B. iiouham (a courier from the same place) 
got in tills morning at eluven o'clock. 

"I have so fortified the place that the walls are generally proof against the 
cannon balls, and 1 still continue to intrench on the inside, and strengthen the walls 
by throwing up the earth. At least two hundred shells have fallen inside our walls 
without having injured a single man; indeed, we have been so fortunate as not, to 
lose a man from any cause, and we have killed many of the enemy. The spirits of 
my men are .still high, although they have had much to depress them. 

"Colonel Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements; 
but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving 
any. Colonel Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at La Bahia (Goliad) fourteen 
days ago, with a request for aid; and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar, I sent 
an express to Colonel Fannin, which reached Goliad on the next day, urging him to 
send on reinforcements — none have yet arrived. I look to the Colonies alone for aid: 
unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. 1 will, 
however, do the best I can under the circumstances; and I feel confident that the 
determined spirit and desperate courage heretofore evinced by my men will not fail 
them in the last struggle; and although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of 
a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost that enemy so dear that it will be worse than 
a defeat. 

"I hope your honorable body will hasten on reinforcements, ammunition, and 
provisions to aid us as soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days for 
the men we have; our supply of ammunition is limited. At least five hundred 
pounds of powder, and two hundred rounds of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pound 
balls, ten kegs of rifle powder, and a supply of lead should be sent to the place 
without delay under a sufficient guard. If these things are promptly sent, and 
large reinforcements are hastened to the frontier, this neighborhood will be the great 
and decisive battle ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here in the 
colonies; we had better meet it here than to suffer a war of desolation to rage in 
our settlements. A blood-red banner waves from the church of Bexar, and in the 



THE ALAMO CITY GTIIDE. 19 

camp above us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels; tliey have 
declared us such, and demanded that we should surrender at discretion, or this gar- 
rison should be put to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me or my 
men, but to make all fight with desperation, and with that high-souled courage 
which characterizes the patriot who is willing to die in defence of his country's 
liberty and his own honor. 

"The citizens of this municipality are all our enemies, except those who joined 
us heretofore; we have but three Mexicans in the fort. Those who have not joined 
us in this extremity should be declared public enemies, and their property should 
aid in defraying the expenses of the war. 

" The bearer of this will give your honorable body a statement more in detail, 
should he escape through the enemy's lines. God and Texas! Victory or death ! " 

Wheh about forty miles distant on his journey towards the town of Gonzales, 
Smith was overtaken by a Mexican horseman, who imparted to him the story of the 
martj'rdom of the heroes. 

It may be of some interest to mention that J. W. Smith was the father of Mrs. 
W. G. Tobin, of this city, of Mrs. Henry Newton, also of this city, and of John W. 
Smith, of Pleasanton, Atascoso County. His wife still resides here, having remar- 
ried, her second husband being the late Judge James B. Lee. 

Eleventh day. — The Mexicans continued the bombardment, but the Texans, being 
short of amunition, seldom fired. Colonel Travis now despaired of succor, and, 
according to one account, he proposed to surrender to Santa Anna with the pledge 
of mercy ; but Santa Anna's answer was : "You mu.st surrender at discretion, 
without any guarantee, even of life, which traitors do not deserve." Santa Anna's 
excuse for this course was that it accorded with the will of the Mexican Congress. 
It is also stated that when the above reply was sent to Colonel Travis, a Frenchman 
by the name of Arago, a brother of the celebrated astronomer of that name, occu- 
pied the position of chief of staff ; but that he forthwith informed the Mexican 
bloodhound that he would be compelled to resign — he could take no part in the 
inhuman course which had been determined upon. Besides, there was nothing to 
be gained by the conquest by so large an army as that of the Mexicans of the 
exhausted and poorly-armed handful of Texans who defied them. The French- 
man's heart could not sympathize with assassins under the generalship of a tyrant, 
and he therefore resigned his commission. According to an account published in 
1800 by a Mr. Rose, Colonel Travis now announced to bis companions their desperate 
situation, and, after declaring his determination to sell his life as dearly as possible, 
drew a line with his sword and asked ail who were willing to fight with him to form 
on the line. With one exception they all fell into the ranks, and even Colonel Bowie, 
who was dying, liad his cot carried to the line. The man who declined to enter the 
ranks, that night made his escape through the Mexican lines. That afternoon Santa 
Anna held a council of war, and, against the advice of his best ofiicers, determined 
to storm the Alamo the next morning. The following is a copy of the general 
orders on the subject : 

Gen'Ekal Orders of March 5, 1836. \ 
2 o'clock P.M. — Secret. ^ 

To the Generals, Chiefs of Sections, and Commanding officers : 

The time has come to strike a decisive blow upon the enemy occupying the 
fortress of the Alamo. Consequently, his Excellency the General-in-Chief has 
decided that, to-morrow at 4 o'clock A.M., the columns of attack shall be stationed 
at musket-shot distance from the first entrenchments, ready for the charge, which 
shall commence at a signal to be given with the bugle from the northern battery. 

The first column will be commanded by General Don Martin Perfecto Cos, and 
in his absence by myself. 

The permanent battalion of Aldama (except the grenadiers) and the three right 
centre companies of the active battalion of San Luis, will compose the first column. 

The second column will be commanded by Colonel Don Francisco Duque, and, 
in his absence, by General Don Manuel Fernandez Castrillion ; it will be composed 
of the active battalion of Toiuca (except the company of grenadiers) and the three 
remaining centre companies of the active battalion of San Luis. 

The third column will be commanded by Colonel Jose Maria Romero, and, in 



20 THE ALAMO CITY GTJIUE. 

his absence, by Colonel Mariano Salas ; it will be composed of the permanent batta- 
lions of Matamoras and Jimenes. 

The fourth column will be commanded by Colonel Juan Morales, and, in his 
absence, by Colonel Jose Minon ; it -will be composed of the light companies of the 
battalions of Matamoras and Jimenes, and of the active battalimi of San Luis. 

His Excellency the General-in-Chief will in due time designate the points of 
attack, and give instructions to the commanding officers 

The reserve will be composed of the battalion of engineers and the five com- 
panies of grenadiers of the permanent battalions of Matamoras, Jimenes.and Aldama, 
and the active battalions of Toluca and San Luis. 

The reserve will be commanded by the General m-Chief in person during the 
attack; but Colonel Augustin Arnat will assemble this party, which will report to 
him this evening at 5 o'clock, to be marched to the designated station. 

The first column will carry ten ladders, two crowbars, and two axes; the second, 
ten ladders; the third, six ladder's; and the fourth, two ladders. 

The men carrying ladders will sling their guns on their shoulders, to be enabled 
to place the ladders wherever they may be required. 

The companies of the grenadiers will be supplied with six packages of cartridirea 
to every man, and the centre companies with two packages and two spare flints. 
The men will wear neither overcoats nor blankets, or anything that may impede the 
rapidity of their motions. The commanding ofiicers will see that the men have the 
chin-straps of their cai)S down, and that they wear either shoes or sandals. 

The troops composing the columns of attack will turn in to sleep at dark, to be 
in readiness to move at I'J o'clock at night. 

Recruits deficient in instruction will remain in their quarters. The arms, prin- 
cipally the bayonets, should be in perfect order. 

As soon as the moon rises the centre companies of the active battalion of San 
Luis will abandon the points they are now occupying on the line, in order to have 
time to prepare. 

The cavalry, under Colonel Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma. will be stationed at the 
Alraeda, saddling up, at 3 o'clock A.M. It shall be its duty to scout the country 
to prevent the possibility of an escape. 

The honor of the nation being interested in this engagement against the bold 
and lavrless foreigners who are opposing us, his Excellency expects that every man 
will do his duty, and exert himself to give a day of glory to the country, and of 
gratification to the supreme government, who will know how to reward the distin- 
guished deeds of the brave soldiers of the army of operations. 

(Signed.) Juan Valentine Amadok. 

A certified copy : 

(Signed) Ramon Martinez Caro. 

Bexar, March 5, 1836. Secretary. 

the fall — SUNDAY, MARCH 6. 

During the night the Mexican army formed in accordance to the orders above 
given, and at the first light of dawn on that memorable Sunday morning the Mexican 
bugles sounded the fatal peal. With a rush like tigers springing on their prey the 
enemy dashed forward, but the heroic Texans, roused to their last duty by the bugle 
notes of their requiem, with the sound of the terrible dequelo (the Mexican bugle 
call for " death, no quarters") ringing in their ears, every man was at his post, and 
so well did they do their duty that twice the brutal hosts of Santa Anna were hurled 
back defeated, only to be again forced forward by the sabres of the Mexican 
cavalry. This time Santa Anna himself urged forward his troops. General Castil- 
lion's division, after half an hour's desperate fighting, and after repeated repulses 
and unheard of losses, succeeded in effecting an entrance in the upper part of the 
Alamo in a sort of outwork. The fighting had only begun. The doors and win- 
dows of the Alamo church were barricaded and guarded by bags of sand heaped up 
as higli as a man's shoulders) and even on the roof were rows of sand bags, behind 
which the Texans fought as never men fought before — muzzle to muzzle, hand to 
hand. Each Texan rifie shot exhausted its force and spent itself in successive 
bodies of Mexicans packed together like a wall of flesh. Muskets and rifles were 
clubbed, and bayonets and bowie knives never before wrought such fearful carnage. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDR. 31 

The ceaseless crash of fire arms, the shots of the beleaguered, desperate, and 
defiant Texans, and the shrieks of the dying, made the din infernal and the scene 
indescribable in its sublime terrors. Each room in the building was the scene of a 
desperate struggle with fearless men driven to desperation and conscious that escape 
was impossible. They fougiit even when striciien down, aud when dying, still 
struggled, not with death, but to slay Mexicans. In the long ro<Mn, used as^ hos- 
pital, the sick and wounded fired pistols and rifles from their pallets. A piece of 
ariiileiy, supposed to be that which Crockett had used during the siege, was sholtled 
with grape and cannister and turned upon the desperate occupants of this apartment. 
After the explosion the Mexicans entered and found the ema cialed bodies of four- 
teen men, torn and mangled and blackened and bloody. Forty-two dead Mexicans 
lay at the door. Colonel James Bowie, whose name tells of his fearful knife and 
deed>;, lay stark and stiff on a cot in this room. lie was helpless and in bed 
when the Alamo was invested twelve days before, but the bodies of the victims of 
his une-rring aim and invincible courage attested that his death was not accom- 
plished without ten-fold loss to the enemy. 

There are several accounts of the death of Colonel Travis, one of which is that 
he was shot in the head by a rifle ball, but even then had strength enough left to 
impale on his sword a Mexican officer who was attempting to mutilate him. 
Another account, derived from a Mexican soldier in the army of Santa Anna, is 
that Colonel Travis aud David Crockett were found lying among the Texan dead, 
utterly worn out by sleepless nights of watching and long continued fighting. "When 
discovered, Colonel Travis gave a Mexican soldier some gold, and wh.le couvcsing 
with him, General Cos, with whom Colonel Travis had dealt very generously when 
San Antonio was captured by the Americans, appeare-l. Cos warmly embiaced 
Travis, aud induced other Mexicans, and among them General Castillion, to join with 
him ina'^king Santa Anna to spare Travis's life. Then David Crockett also wearily 
arose to his feet from among the corpses. The brutal Santa Anna was terribly 
enraged at the disobedience of his orders, sa-ying : "I want no prisoners," and turn- 
ing to a file of soldiers ordered ihem to shoot the heroes. Colonel Travis was first 
shot in the back, lie folded his arms stiffly acn^ss his breast and stood erect until a 
bullet pierced his neck, when he fell headlong among the dead. David Crockett 
fell at the first fire, his body being completely riddled with bullets. Even a cat 
that was soon alter seen running through the fort was shot, the soldiers exclaiming : 
"It is not a cat but an American." ]\Iajor Evans was siiot while in the act of 
applying a torch to the magazine, in time to prevent an explosion. 

Filisola, the Slexican historian who accompanied the army of Santa Anna, thus 
concludes his account of the battle of the Alamo : 

" Finally, the place remained in the power of the Mexicans, and all its defenders 
were killed. It is a source of deep regret, that, after the excitement of the combat, 
many acts of atrocity were allowed, which are unworthy of the gallantry and reso- 
lution with which this operation was executed, and stamps it with an indelible stain 
in the annals of history. These acts were reproved at the time b}' those who had 
the sorrow to witness them, and, subsequently, by the whole army, who were cer- 
tainly not animated by such feelings, and who heard with disgust and horror, as 
becomes brave and generous Mexicans, breathing none but noble and lolty senti- 
ments, of certain facts which I forbear mentioning, and would wish, for the honor 
of the republic, had never taken place. 

''In our opinion, the blood of our soldiers, as well as that of the enemy, was 
shed in vain, for the mere gratification of the inconsiderate, puerile, aud guilty Vanity 
of reconquering Bexar by force of arms and through a bloody contest. In fact, as 
we have already stated, the defenders of the Alamo were disposed to surrender, 
upon the only condition that tlieir lives would be spared. Let us even admit that 
they were not so disposed — what could the wretches do, being surrounded by five 
thousand men, without proper means of resistance, no possibility of retreating, nor 
any hope of receiving sufficient reinforcements to compel the Mexicans to raise the 
siege ?" 

In one of the rooms of the Alamo were three non-combatants : Mrs. Dickinson 
and lier infant daughter (Mrs. Alsbury), and a negro servant of Colonel Travis. Mrs. 
Dickinson, now Mrs. Uanning, alone survives, and resides in Austin. Her infant 



22 THE AliAMO CITY GUIDE. 

daughter afterwards married, and was the mother of A. D. Griffith, who resides in 
Yarrehon, Milam county, in this State. She died in 186S. It is related that the 
last Mrs. Dickinson saw of her husband, Captain Dickinson, was when he rushed 
into her room and said : " My dear wife, tbey are coming over the wall ; we are all 
lost." He then silently embraced her and their babe, and said: "May God spare 
you and our dear baby." He drew his sword and went out, and bis body was after- 
wards found riddled with bullets. In the fall of 1878, an aged Mexican by the 
name of Brigido Guerrero applied to the County Court of Bexar county for a pen- 
sion as a survivor of the Alamo. His story is tbat he was one of the soldiers under 
Colonel Traviy, and continued to tiglit uniil the enemy had entered the enclosure. 
Seeing that further resistance was useless he entered the room in which were the 
women, and was concealed by them under some bedding, where he remained until 
night, and tben made his escape. Altbough he has steadtastly maintained the truth 
of this story ijince 1843, his veracity is doubted by many of the early inhabitants. 
At any rate, the evidence he offered the court was so strong that he was placed on 
the pension list, and to the present writing has received aid from the State. 

BUKNING THE TEXAN DEAD. 

The Alamo fallen and the massacre complete, Santa Anna ordered the Texan 
dead to be burned; accordingly they were stripped, and after being subject to indig- 
nities iu which Santa Anna joined, were taken to a point on Alameda Street, near the 
present location of St. Jo.-eph's (German) Catholic Church, where the funeral pyre 
was erected, there first being a layer of fence lails, then bodies, then rails over and so 
on until all the bodies were in place. Brush was then piled on and around the pyre 
and the torch applied. Then arose to heaven a burnt offering on the altar of Liberty 
which will never cease to be remembered in every true Texan's heart. Fire did not 
wholly reduce the bodies, and the charred remains were afterwards gathered 
together and buried near the spot which they had hallowed by their heroic defence 
and bloody death. 

THE NUMBEK OF MEXICAN SLAIN 

has been a mooted question ; the Mexicnn Adjutant General placing it at sixty 
killed and two hundred and fifty-one wounded iu the assault; but from the nature of 
the attack, the densely-closed columns, through which repeated charges of grape 
and cannon balls from the Texan cannons tore with such deadly effect tbat the whole 
army was twice driven back, the noted deadly effect of Texan ritles, and the terrible 
hand to-hand conflict which closed the battle, all point to a much larger number cf 
Mexican dead. We are therefore constrained to believe that the number stated by 
Pancho Ruiz, the alcalde of the city, and who superintended the burning of the 
Texan dead and the burial and disposal of the Mexican dead, is much rearer the 
truth. He stated, and the statement is now a part of our County records, that about 
two thousand Mexicans fell in the assault on the Alamo, independent of the casualties 
of the previous eleven days C'f the siege. 

Iu the face of this statement how puerile does the ofiicial report of Santa Anna 
read. Such a document could only emanate from a dastardly liar, such as the Mexi- 
can tyrant ever proved himself to be. We give it iu full : 

To His Excellency the Secretary of War and Navy, General Jose Maria Tome. 

Most Excellent Sm : Victory belongs to the army, which at this very 
moment, 8 o'clock A.M , achieved a complete and glorious triumph that will render 
its memory imperishable. 

As 1 had stated in my report to your Excellency of the taking of this city, on 
the 2Tth of last month, I awuited the ariival of the first brigade of infantry to com- 
mence active operations against the fortress of the Alamo. However, the whole 
brigade having been delayed beyond my expectation, I ordered that three of its bat- 
lalions, viz. : the engineers— Aldama and Toluca — should force their march to join 
me. These troops, together with the battalions of Malamoras, Jimenez, and San 
Luis Potisi, brought the force at my disjiosal (recruits excluded) up to 1,400 infantry. 
The force, divided into four columns of attack and a reserve, commenced the attack 
at 5 o'clock A.M. They met with a stubborn resistance, the combat lasting more 
than one hour and a half, and the reserve having to be brought into action. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. S» 

The scene offered by this engagement was extraordinary. The men fought 
individually, vicing with each other in heroism. Twenty-one pieces of artillery, 
used by the enemy with the most perfect accuracy, the brisic tire of musketry which 
illuminated the interior of the fortress and its walls and ditches, could not check 
our dauntless soldiers, who are entitled to the consideration of the supreme govern- 
ment and to the gratitude of the nation. 

The fortress is now in our power, with its artillery, stores, etc. More than six 
hundred corpses of foreigners were buried in the ditches and entrenchment, and a 
great many who had escaped the bayonets of the infantry fell in the vicinity under 
the sabres of the cavalry. I can assure your Excellency that few are those who bore 
to their associates the tidings of their disaster. 

Among the corpses are those of Bowie and Travis, who styled themselves 
colonels, and also that of Crockett and several leading men, who had entered the 
fortress with despatches from their Convention. We lost about seventy men killed 
and three hundred wounded, among whom are twenty-five officers. The cause for 
which they fell renders their loss less painful, as it is the duty of the Mexicau 
soldiers to die for the defence of the rights of the nation, and all of us were ready 
for any sacrifice to promote the fond object; nor will we hereafter sulfer any 
foreigners, whatever their origin may be, to insult our country and to pollute its 
soil. 

I shall, in due time, send to your Excellency a circumstantial report of this 
glorious triumph. Now, 1 have only time to congratulate the nation and the 
president, ad interim, to whom I request you to submit this report. 

The bearer takes with him one of the flag's of the enemy's battalions, captured 
to-day. The inspection of it will show plainly the true intention of the treacherous 
colonists, and of their abettors, who came from the ports of the United States and 
the north. 

God and liberty ! 

(Signed) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. 

Headquarters, Bexar, March 6, 1836. 

Don Ruiz states he gathered together the bodies of the Mexicans and buried 
them in trenches, and having filled the trenches, he stripped the remainder and 
threw them into the San Antonio River. 

In forty-six days after the terrible massacre of the Alamo, the battle of San 
Jacinto was fo<ight, the Declaration of Independence had been passed, the tyrant 
Santa Anna was captured, and Texas took its place among the nations of the world. 
From this time until the 5th of March, 1843, our city was free from the Mexican 
foe, but the depredations of the savages gave our citizens but little time for penceful 
securit3^ The Comanches were particularly annoying to the settlers, and Indian 
raids were successfully prosecuted to within a few miles of the city. 

INDIAN FIGHT ON THE MAIN PLAZA. 

Early in 1840 a number of Comanche chiefs sent in word to Captain Karnea 
that they wished to come to this city and make peace. They were told to come, 
and bring with them all the prisoners they had. When they arrived they brought 
with them only one little girl, a Miss Lockheart, when they were known to have 
others, especially a Mrs. Webster and child, captured a few weeks previous in the 
neighborhood of Georgetown. This lady, with her child, succeeded in making her 
escape, and after thrilling adventures and undergoing untold hardships, she finally 
succeeded in reaching this city. On the 19th of ]\larch twelve Comanche chiefs 
entered the building used as a court house, now the site of a large three-, tory 
building owned by Mr. Daniel Devine, where they met the commissioners appointed 
by President Lamar, with the interpreter. TRe Indians were upbraided for not 
bringing more of the captives held by them. They replied, in a defiant manner, 
that the one tlu-y brought was all they had. In the meantime a company of Texas 
Rangers had arrived, and Captain Howard and some of his men entered the 
room. Tbe enterprcter was tnld to tell them they would be held as hostages until 
the other prisoners were brougtit in. At first he refused to do this, as he said they 
would instantly figlit; but the commissioners insisted, and, placing lumself near 
the door, he told the Indians the determination arrived at by the commissioners. 



24 THE ALAMO CITY GtTTDE. 

and immediately left. As he said, the chiefs immediately drew their bows and 
knives, and one started for the door, in which Captain Howard was standing. The 
Captain received a severe cut with a knife, but killed the Indian. A general fight 
followed, in which the Indians, both men and women, participated. A powerful 
chief attacked Colonel M. Caldwell, who was not armed; he, however, defended 
himself with ro<;ks until a soldier shot the savage. In an adjoiniog room Mr. 
Morgan was attacked by two Indians, and killed them both. Lieutenant Dunning- 
ton was killed l)y a squaw, who shot him with an arrow, which passed through his 
body. Judge Thompson was in the yard, amusing himself by setting up pieces of 
money in a split stick for the little Indians to knock out with their arrows, aud he 
was shot before he suspected any danger. Judge Hood was killed in the council 
house. Colonel Lysander Wells rode on the plaza just as the fight commenced, and 
a powerful savage vaulted on behind him and finst altempted to unhorse him. 
Failing in this, he next tried to ^uide the horse out of the plaza. The Colonel — 
held fa it as he was — found himself unable to draw his pistol. Finally, after passing 
two or three times around the plaza, the Indian was shot by a soldier, and Colonel 
"Wells was relieved from his awkward predicament. The tight lasted until all the 
warriors (thirty), two squaws, and three Indian children were killed. The loss of 
the Texans was seven killed and eight wounded. 

SAN ANTONIO CAPTURED BY VASQUIS. 

For six years the government of the Republic of Texas had been administered 
without serious interruption. Mexico, however, still claimed the country as its 
own, and as an evidence of that claim, on the 5th of March, 1842, General Vasquis, 
with a few hundred men, appeared in the neighborhood of the city and demanded 
its possession. After some consultation it was thought best for Colonel Jack Hays 
to retire to the Guadeloupe with his small command, as Vasquis had promised ample 
protection to the citizens in all their civil rights. To his credit be it said this 
promise was literally and faithfully kept. The enemy behaved wi(h great pro- 
priety, placing sentinels over private property to protect it. The city government 
was remodelled, and alcaldes took tlie place of the magistrates. After remaining 
here two days the enemy left, and a few of the citizens voluntarily went with them 
to the Rio Grande. 

GENERAL WOLL'S INVASION. 

On the 11th of September in the same year, General Adrian Woil, at the head 
of the Mexican army, entered the city. His coming, like that of Vasquis, was 
wholly unexpected, and the district court being iu session he captured the judge, 
jury, and officers of the court, fifty-three iu all. This army also behaved very well 
m the city, and protected private property from plunder. From the private jour- 
nal kept by Mr. J. L. Trueheart during this eventful period, we copy the following 
account of the capture of the city: 

" The district court was in session, and here were the judge of the court, the 
attorneys, the jurois, and the neighbc^rs. Suddenly the nevvs was received that a 
large Mexican force was approaching on the pui)lic plaza. There was bustle and 
confusion; some of one opinion, some of another. A public meeting was held at 
nine o'clock. Two respectable Mexicans stated that one of the enemy's spies had 
been iu town the night before and informed them that a large force would enter 
the town on that day, and they advised our retieat. It was, however, determined 
that the Americans should remain a sufficient time, at least, to ascertain the chaiac- 
ter of the force. Many believed it to be a band of robbers, who sought to fi ighten 
us off that they might rub the town; spies were sent out to obtam informttion; 
commissioners were selected by the Mexican citizens to go to the camp and ascer- 
tain from the commanding officef the object of his visit. If it was a regular 
invading force the commissioners would be allowed to return but if thej^ were 
robbers they probably would be detained. About sunset a JNIexican returned and 
reported that thej"^ had come in sight of about one hundred horses, and he was sent 
back to give the information. The impression then became general that it was a 
robbing party, and all steps were taken to give them a warm reception. The force 
of Americans was about seventy-five, and they agreed to sleep at the house of Sam 
Maverick, who lived at the corner of the public square. There was a sort of bar- 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 25 

ricade thrown up from the river to a river crossing (about where George Horner's 
store now is), and beliind it most of the men slept. At the early dawn the report 
of a heavy piece of cannon woko us up. ' Tliey are coming, boys, sure enougli 1' 
was the remark. Tlie morning was foggy, and in a few minutes the legs only of 
the soldiers could be S3en filing into ttie plaza (where Frost's store now is), and 
when they got toward the middle of the i)laza, the rifles of the Ameiieaiis gave 
them a volley. Some one remarked, 'You are shooting too high!' and more 
careful aim was taken next time, with the effect to scatter the advance that 
was coming upon us — remember that all this time we supposed we were tight- 
ing a robbing party. After the second volley, a countryman came crawling 
toward us, saying, 'My God, men, what are you doing? You are shooting at 
an army of thousands of men !' And by this time the fog had cleared 
enough for us to realize what we had done, and the position we were 
placed in. Soon a white flag approached, and Colonel Carasco, of the 
Mexican army, demanded to know the meaning of such foolishness, 
stating that we had fired on fifteen hundred men entering the town 
with music playing and no intention of being resisted, and demanded our 
surrender in five minutes. As it was idle to contend against such a force, three of 
our number — Mr. S A. Maverick, Vanness, and Jones— were. deputed to arrange 
terms of capitulation. On reaching General Woll, he was found to be in a very bad 
humor; said that twelve of his best men had been killed by our fire. He was 
informed that it was thought a mere robbing party, against whom they were author- 
ized to defend themselves, and t'ney did not know they were attacking a force of 
soldiers. He refused permission to return home, and demanded the surrender of our 
army. We then surrendered on condition granted of humane treatment. 
Several of our citizens returned to their homes, and thus escaped capture, and some 
few others made good their escape by flight. 

The lo.ss of the enemy was ten or twelve killed and twenty-five wounded, all of 
whom afterwards died, with the exception of two; besides suiferiug a considerable 
loss in horses. Although subject to quite a lively fire from both artillery and 
infantry, the lo.«s on our side was nothing, save a ferocious dog and an indiscreet 
old hen, who, wandering too near the enemy's lines, were captured. After the sur- 
render we were marched to the court-house, where our names, etc., were taken down. 
We were then confined in the corporation hall under guard. We were fifty-five 
Americans and one Mexican. I left my blanket at the house where I stopped. I 
was not permitted to go after it, nor to go to my room to get my clothes. Every- 
one of us seemed to be in good spirits, regardless of the future. Many of those 
that were not prisoners were permitted to see us, always accompanied by an oflicer. 
During our stay in San Antonio we were kindly treated by the citizens, l)oth Ameri- 
cans and Mexicans, but were not permitted to have any communication with our 
friends, un'.css in presence of some officer. In the evening a list of our names, pro- 
fessions, and birth-places was made. On the I'ith (Monday) General Woll's proclama- 
tion and general order were translated, and permission granted by General Woll to 
send them on to the settlements on the Guadaloupe River. At the same time a letter 
was sent, giving an account of our misfortune. Several of those captured were 
citizens of other counties of the republic, and were attending court on business. 

The proclamation was addressed to the soldiers, in which he called upon them 
to avenge the wrongs bnmght about by the ingratitude of Texans; in battle to be 
brave, and to be mindful of their former renown; and after the battle, act as Mexi- 
cans and be generous. The general order stated that the war was made only against 
those who were found with arms in their hands, and tliat whatever officer or soldier 
who entered a house forcibly with the intention of robbing would be immediately 
shot. " We leai-ned that the commissioners were made prisoners and brought into 
town. The >[exican spies did not return as they promised, and we have been unable 
to hear from them." 

But the Texans were thoroughly disgusted with this invasion foolishness, and 
rpsolvedtocrushit out then and there. Accordingly, a considerable force collected on 
the SaUulo, six miles from the city. On the 17th of September, Woll marched out with 
his army to disperse this force. Colonel Caldwell, in his report of the battle, says: 
" We commenced fighting about ten o'clock, and continued a hot fire rmtil about an 
hour by the sun, when the enemy retreated, bearing ofi many of their dead and 



26 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

wounded, while many dead and wounded were taken from the field by their friends. 
We have a glorious band of Texan patriots, among whom ten only were wounded, 
and not one killed." 

As Woll was retreating towards the city he fell in with a company of fifty-three 
Texaus, under the command of Captain Dawson, from F;iyi'tte County, on their 
way to jitn Colonel Caldwell. The Texans were attacked, and after nearly one-half 
of the men had fallen, Captain Dawson raised the white flag; it was fired upon. 
Captain Dawson was an old soldier, having been in the United States army, and 
was a lieutenant at San Jacinto but seeing the hopelessness of fighting such over- 
whelming numbers, he surrendered his pistol. Unarmed as he was, a Mexican 
lancer assaulted him. He wrenched the lance from his opponent, and would have 
killed him, but was himself killed l)y another Mexican soldier. Thirty-three of his 
men were killed in battle, fifteen surrendered five of whom were wounded, and two 
escaped unhurt. One of the latter, Henry G. Wood, who lost his father and brother 
in the fight, after giving up his arms, was assaulted by a lancer. He seized the 
lance, killed the Mexican with it, and mounted his horse and escaped. At daybreak 
on the morning after this battle, Woll evacuated the city and started for the Rio 
Grande, taking his San Antonio prisoners with him. A misunderstanding among 
the Texans as to who was entitled to the command, prevented a pursuit. This was 
the last of the Mexican invasions of Texas. 

THE ANNEXATION. 

In 1845, Texas voluntarily resigned its proud position as one of the nations of 
the world, and became one of the States of the United Stales of America. The 
Mexican war followed, and during its continuance our city was very prosperous as 
one of the principal points of supply to the army. 

At the close of the Mexican war San Antonio became the Military Headquarters 
of the Department of Texas, which position it held for twelve years, when the ordi- 
nance of secession was passed, and Texas again became a free and independent 
State; but on the 4th of March, 1861, its sovereignty was a second time surrendered, 
and Texas became one of the Stales of Southern Confederacy. 

UNDER THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. 

At that time Major General David E. Twiggs commanded the Department of 
Texas, and had under his command about twenty five hundred United States troops. 
The convention which passed the ordinance of secession also appointed commis- 
sioners to demand of General Twiggs the possession of the public property held by 
him, and the following is a copy of the rep jrt uf the commissioners. 

San Antonio, Texas, February 18, 1861. 
The undersigned, commissioners on the part of the State oi Texas, fully empow- 
ered to exercise the authority undertaken by them, have formally and solemnly 
agreed with Brevet Major General David E. Twigga, U. S. A., commanding the 
Department of Texas, tliat the troops of the United States shall leave the soil of the 
State by way of the coast: that they shall take with them the arms of their respect- 
ive corps, including the battery at Fort Duncan and the battery of the same char- 
acter at Fort Brown, and shall be allowed the necessary means for regular and 
comfortable movement, provisions, tents, etc., etc., and transportation. 

It is the desire of the commission that there shall be no infraction of this agree- 
ment on the part of the Slate. It is their wish, on the confrars, that every faciiity 
shall be attorded the troops. They are our friends. They have hitherto afforded 
to our people all the protection in their power, and we owe them every cousiderar 
tion. 

The public property at the various posts, other than that above recited for the 
use of the troops, will be turned over to agent* to be appointed for the commission, 
who will give due and proper receipts for tl e whole to the officers of the army, 
whom they relieve in their custody of the pu! lie property. 

Thomas J. Devine, 
P. N. Luckett, 
S. A. Maverick, 
Commissioners on behalf of the Committee on Public Safety, 



THE ALAMO CITY GtJIDB. 27 

For the next four years our city was the scene of martial pomp and military 
preparation. Unlike other portions of the Confederacy, silver was the circulating 
medium, and trade with Mexico was kept up during the entire period, subject to 
occasional restrictions put upon it by tlie military authorities. Public works of 
great magnitude were also commenced, but the termination of the war caused them 
to be abandoned, and tUey have since been suffered to decay. 

IN THE UNION. 

In July, I8n5, the Federal troops arrived, and resumed possession of the public 
property, and since that time the growth of the city has been constant, until now 
we claim tlie attention nf the whole world. 

In the latter part of February, 1877, the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio 
Railway was completed to our city, and from that time to the present day, improve- 
ment has followed improvement in such rapid succession tliat to read of them is like 
a peep into a mental kaleidoscope, whose every turn exposes new beauties to the 
entranced reader. To present all these changes, from the old to the new, would far 
exceed the circumscrit)ed limits allowed us, and we shall only attempt to briefly 
summarize some of the principal advantages which modern enterprise has brought us. 



28 



THE ALAMO CITY GtTIDE. 




THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER II 

RELIGIOUS HISTORY, CHURCHES, ETC. 

The local historian who nos;lects to make special mention of the religious insti- 
tutions here fails to complete his task. So far as history informs us, the first white 
men who visited this valley were the early Roman Catholic missionarits, and cer- 
tainly it was the Franciscan Fathers who planned and built our irrigation ditches, 
as well as those monuments of early civilization, the Missions, Indeed, from the 
earliest days the cause of religion has always been prominent here, and although this 
city has passed through wars and rebellions, and has been a very shuttlecock of 
Mars, with frequent change of allegiance, yet the church has ever remained 
unchanged. The towers of its sacred buildings from time to time displayed the 
blood-stiiined banners of contending armies, and even the black and the red flags 
were on occasions thrown thence to the breeze, but its priests have never faltered in 
their work of love and charity, and its altars were always accessible to even the most 
lowly penitent. Under the care of the early Fathers the savage natives of the 
country were taught not only the word of God, but also the arts of civilization, and 
Indian labor was used in the building of the irrigation ditches as well as in tilling 
the soil thus made serviceable for cultivation. In those early days peace reigned in 
this valley, and it was only when the Spanish and Mexican adventureis were 
attracted here by the health giving climate, the fertility of the soil, and the chance 
for pecuniary gain, that the rights of the Indians were infringed upon, and the red 
man became the relentless enemy of the whites. 

THE MISSIONS. 

In his offlcial report to the King of Spain, the Count Revilla Gigedo, Viceroy of 
Mexico, under date of December 27. 179:{, says an expedition, including in its num- 
bers nine Franciscan Fathers, headed by the Right Rev. Father Antonio Margil 
de Jesus, was sent out in the j^ear 1716, and they established six missions in the more 
northern part of the Province of Texas. There are, however. Catholic records in 
existence which speak of the labors of a Catholic priest in Texas as early as 1554. In 
1730 three of these missions were transferred to the sites which they now occupy 
along the San Antonio River, viz. : Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, San Juan 
Capistrano, and San Francisco de la E<pada. The report continues: 

THE COST OF SPIRITUAL CONQUEST. 

"The religious disciples from the Colleges of Santa Cruz de Queretaro and 
Nuestra Senora de Guadeloupe (Franciscan Fathers) have always been favorably 
noted for the commendable zeal and apostolic anxiety with which they have at all 
times dedicated themselves to the conversion of Indians. It is also well known that 
the royal treasury has contributed millions of dollars towards the success of this 
spiritual conquest, but neither our acquisitions nor the number of Indians congre- 
gated in tho actual mission towns do by any means justify the enormous outlay 
incurred, nor the fatiguing labors undergone by the missionary Fathers. Exposing 
themselves to all possible dangers, they have always been compelled to reinforce the 
smali number of their converts from the coast near the Bay of Espiritu Santo or 
San Bernardo, and from th*^ vicinity of Nueva Santander. aided in their labors only 
by small escorts of troops; and alth(»ugh they iiave worked with the utmost zeal and 
all necessary precaution in the more remote parts of the territory, they have as yet 
never been able to achieve the religious conversion of even one single entire tribe of 
the many that inhabit and roam over this vast district. 

INDIAN TRIBES IN TEXAS. 

" Up to the present time (1793) we know of the following tribes"? Texas, Vidais, 
Tancalmes, Luitseis, Atacapaces, Horcoquisas, Flechazos, Yervipiamos, Nacog- 
doches, Asimias, Nasones, Cododachos, Taobayaces, Tahuacanas, Pasmismahas, 



I'O 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



and Osages. besides some tribes of the Apaches and Lipans, "who dwell on the 
frontier of Coahuila. It may be that tiiere are a few individual Indians of these 
tribes in the missions, but according to the names enrolled from their foundation 
there remains no doubt that the greater part of them were brought from the coast of 
San Bernardo and the colony of Nuevo Santander, as previously stated. This is 
also certified to by Lieutenant-Governor Marquis de Rubi ia his report. 

WEALTH OP THE MISSIONS. 

" With just cause he also speaks of the opulence and wealth of the five mis 
sions on the banks of the San Antonio River seeing their well-built and beautifully 
ornamented temples, their showy furniture of great value and exquisite finish, holy 
vessels, and other corresponding adornments. He found the houses of the mission- 
ary Fathers and those of ihe Indians, the granaries and all other buildings, supplied 
with all necessary conveniences; the fields of tiie various missions were in a fine 
state of cultivation, covered witli grain, fruit, and cattle, and he could find no fault 
with the Christian education of the Indians, nor in their political or home manage- 
ment. They were well supplied with abundant provisions, and with the proper 
humble but neatly finished clothing. This praiseworthy system of conducting the 
missions has never changed. The edifices and riches of their temples are still pre- 
served, but their wealth of flocks and fields has rapidly gone to ruin on account of 
the oft-repeated attacks of their Indian enemies. Nevertheless, those who are still 
assembled around these five missions, now reduced to four by the secularization of 
San Antonio Valero (the Alamo), suffer no want, and have become conneeted with 
Spanish families by marriage, and now only desire to check the hostilities of the 
Indians and continue the recruiting of converts from the colony of Nueva Santanda, 
so that with their additional help they can more thoroughly cultivate their fields 
and obtain security for their flocks and herds, and thus restore the missions to their 
former opulence." 

The above report was written in a very doleful mood, as the basis of a recom- 
mendation of a general abandonment of the various missions in Texis and a con- 
soUdation of the colonists, converts, and priests at the capital city of San Fernando 
(San Antonio), where some of the local missions would be continued, and others 
abandoned This recommendation was not fully adopted bv the Spanish Govern- 
ment, though some of the distant missions were abandoned. Accompanying the 
above report was the following tabulated statement of the various missions then 
existing in Texas: 

TABLE OF THE MISSIONS. 



Names of the Missions 



San Antonio Valero, "The 
Alamo " 

Nuestra Senora de la Con- 
cepcion 



San Jose Aguayo. 



San Juan Capistrana . . . 

Sau Francisco de la Es- 

pada 



Espritu Santo 

Nuestra Senora del Ro 



sario 

Nuestra Senora del Re- 
fugio 



Date of 
Founding. 



1716 
1716 
1720 
1716 
1716 
1720 
1754 
1791 



Distance from the 
Capital (San An- 
tonio). 



Capital. 

1 league E. 

2 leagues S. 

3 leagues S. 
31 leagues S. 
40 leagues SE. 
38 leagues SE. 
50 leagues SE. 




Sanes. Payaes, &Vanos. 
Sanipaos, Tacanes, and 

others. 
Pampopas, Mesquites, 

and others. 
Pamaques, Quijanes, 

and others. 
Pecos. Marquitas, and 

others. 
Quijanes, Carancahua- 

ces, and Xaranes. 
Quijanes and Carauca- 

huaces. 

Carancahuaces. 



No. of 

SouJe. 



Total. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 31 

From other sources we glean the following description of the various missions 
located in the immediate vicinity of San Antonio, and whose ruins are now visited 
by strangers who come to this city: 

THE ALAMO. 

The first of the missions in importance to visitors is the old Alamo, which is 
situated on the east side of the Alamo phiza, near the Menger Hotel and the Post 
Office. Hallowed as the site of the most memorable battle which has ever been 
fought on Texas soil, and being the altar on which William 11. Travis, Daw Crockett, 
James Bowie, J. B. Bonham, and their heroic companions offered up their lives in 
the cause of liberty and popular government, it is the Mecca of Texas tourists, and 
is worthy of a more honorable fate than being converted into a grocery ware- 
house. 

As a mission it was known as San Antonio de Valero, being named for St. 
Anthony of Padua and the Duke of Valero, one of the Viceroys of Mexico. Some 
authorities state that this mission was originallv founded in the Gienega of the Rio 
Grande in 17i'3, and was then moved to a place called San Ildephonso, and after- 
wards moved back to the banks of the Rio Grande, to be from thence transferred to 
San Antonio in 1716. They also st ate 1 hat it was fi rst located here at San Pedro Springs, 
and from there moved to the Military Plaza, and finally located in its present situa- 
tion. However that may be, we know that a slab in the front wall bears the date of 
1757, though the corner-stone is said to have been laid with appropriate ceremonies 
on the 8th of May, 1744. This mission Avas secularized by royal decree prior to the 
year 1793. 

Its name, Alamo, which signifies Cottonwood in Spanish, was probably given 
it by t e troops quartered there who came trom Fort Alamo de Purras, in the 
Province of Coahuila, to which province Texas was then attached, and who called 
the old mission Fort Alamo in honor of their former .station. This name has since 
then been retained. Old church records bear out this statement, and contain 
memoranda of the baptism of soldiers who had been transferred to this city from 
Fort Alamo de Parras, also stating that the soldiers who had at first been stationed 
outside of and adjoining the Alamo, being much troubled by Indians, erected 
barracks within the enclosure of the mission. 

DESCEIPTION OP THE ALAMO. 

The ancient city of San Antonio was first built in the vicinity of Main and 
Military plazas, but owing to the frequent attacks of the Indians, the settlement 
was extended into the bend of the river, along the present line of Commerce Street 
as far as the bridge, which was not built until some time after the fall of the Alamo. 
So that the Alamo, which is now in the heart of the city, was then some distance to 
tlie east of it. The main chapel, that which we now know as the Alamo proper, is 
.'icventy -five by sixty two feet in size, the walls being of solid masonry, four feet 
thick, and twenty-two and a half feet in height. It fronts to the west, towards the 
ancient city, which was about a quarter of a mile distant. From the northwest 
corner a wall extended fifty feet to the convent building. The convent was a two 
story building, with a flat roof, one hundred and eighty-six feet ih length, and 
eighteen feet in width. From the northeast corner of the chapel, a wall extended 
one hundred and eighty-six feet north, thence one hundred and two feet west, 
enclosing the convent yard. From the southeast corner of the chapel, a strongly 
built stockade extended seventy-five feet to a building called the prison. The 
prison was a one story building, one hundred and hftcen feet in length by seventeen 
feel in width, and joined a part of the east wall; and some low buildings used as 
barracks formed a part of the west wall: The Alamo plaza enclo.sed within these 
walls was one hundred and fifty-four yards in length by fiftj'-four m width. The 
different enclosures embraced between two and three acres, and afforded ample 
accommodations for a thousand men. The outer walls were two and a quarter feet 
wide, and eight feet high. Though as they were planned for a protection against 
the Indians, the fortress was destitute of salient and dominant points in case of a 
bombardment. A ditch used for irrigation passed immediately in the rear of the 
church, and another touched the northwest angle of the main square. 



32 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



ITS ARMAMENT. 



At the time of the memorable siege, which resulted in the heroic death of all of 
its brave defenders on the 6th of March, 1836, three heavy guns were planted upon 
the walls of the church — one pointed north towards the old mi 1, one pointed west 
towards the city, and one south towards the village of La Villeta, in the vicinity of 
the present locution of the German English school, where Santa Anna pitched his 
chief camp. Two guns prelected the stockade between the church and prison, 
and an eighteen-pounder was planted at the southwest angle of the main square. A 
twelve jiound carronade protected the centre of the west wall, and an eight-pounder 
protected the northwest angle. Two guns were also planted on tbe north wall of 
the plaza, making in all fourteen guns in position. Over the church building, the 
present Alamo, floated the flag of the Provisional Government of Te.xas, as it was 
c tiled, but at that time the struggle of the Texans was for the re-establishment of 
the Constitution of 1S24 and the securing of the granted rights to the colonists, and 
against the tyrannical policy of confiscatiou and annihilation as adopted by the 
usurper, Santa Anna. The Declaration of Independence of Texas was not passed 
until nearly a montli later. Tlie flag, therefore, consisted of the Mexican tri-cclor, 
with the numerals 1824 in the place of the eagle in the white stripe. 

After the battle the Alamo was a ruin. The arched roof was destroyed and 
the walls were marked by the cannon balls and in some places serious breaches had 
been made in them. For fifteen years there were no repairs attempted, and then the 
old church Duilding and the convent were rebuilt on the old walls so as to conform 
as nearly as possible to the original plan, except in the roof of the church building 
which received a pitched roof instead of the original arched roof and a second story 
made within the building. In its restored condition the church building, which is 
now known as the Alamo, has been used mainly as a warehouse, and the city of 
San Antonio has also added a one story addition on the south side which is used as 
the Third Ward Police Station. The property is owned by the Roman Catholic 
Church authorities. The convent building was leased on a long term of years by 
the late Honore Grenet, and converted into a large grocery and general store, the 
Alamo being used by the representatives of his estate as a storehouse. 

THE FIRST MISSION. 

From the fact that the Alamo is more regarded as being the scene of the cele- 
brated sacrifice, which has won for it the name of the Thermopylfe of America, 
and the records of spiritual coiiquc sts are overshadowed by recitals of the deeds pf 
its martyr defenders, the mission of Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion la Purissima 
de Acuna, so named in honor of the Immaculate Conception ot the Virgin Mary, 
and Juan de Acuna, Marquis of Casa Fuerta, Viceroy in 1722, but now commonly- 
called Mission Concepcion, is designated as the First Mission. 

This mission is situated on the left bank of the San Antonio River, about two 
miles -below the city. As will be seen by reference to the table of tlie missions 
accompanying the report of the Count Revilla-Gigedo, it was founded in 1716, but 
was moved to its present location in 1730. Local traditions state that ihe corner- 
stone of the present edifice was laid March 5, 1731, by Father Bergara and Captain 
Perez. 

This mission is, as are the others, of an architectural style peculiarly their 
own. It might not be inaptly named Christianized Moorish. The front is a 
square, flanked on either side by a dome-covered belfry. The principal door is sur- 
mounted liy a triangular facjade, all of which are deserving of deep and careful 
study. The whole outside of the building is' covered with a coat of cement or 
mastic, which was painted in various geometrical forms, somewhat after the fashion 
of tiles. One tower contained a room in which the sacred vestments and articles 
not in daily use were kept. The other was the baptistry, which also had an altar. 
The walls of this room are painted with various emblems, among which the cord of 
the Franciscans, a serpent, and the seven dolores, or sorrows, which pierced the 
heart of the Virgin Mother, are conspicuous. The entrance to the church is 
between the towers and through a vestibule. The auditorium is not large, but is 
lighted by a dome, less massive, but far more beautiful in its proportions than that 
01 the Capitol at Washington. The building now bears the heavy marks of time, 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 33 

neglect, and the desecration of vandal hands. The visitor should not fail to ascend 
to the roof, and view not only its siugular construction, but a lands^cape of surpass- 
ing beauty. Beneath his eye are the broad leagues, where Christian Indians once 
industriously tilled their fields, where the brave missionaries of the church once 
raised the Cross and buried the tomahawk. These fields, now abandoned to wild 
growth, were once richwiili crops of ripened grain. Their i<qucducts and irrigating 
canals still remain, examples of patient industry and frugal toil. At a distance the 
blue hills rise heavenward in all their misty grandeur, while at his feet the river 
gurgles over its stony bed in a murmur of praise to the Author of all beauty. At 
all the missions there were large si one enclosures, like that described at the Alamo, 
in which thousands of Christian Indians could assemble for a solemn festival or 
find shelter from a sudden attack of hostile tribes. Attached to these missions were 
barracks -for troops, which protected the country around and purchased their sup- 
plies from the surplus stores of the church. The ruins of these outworks may still 
be seen. A reference to the historical sketch in this book will inform the reader of 
the memorable battles fought near this mission. 

THE SECOND MISSION. 

Next, distant about four miles below the city and on the right bank of the San 
Antonio River, is the Mission San Jose de xlguayo, .so named in honor of St. Joseph, 
and Aguayo, one of the Spanish governors of Texas, and commonly designated as 
the Second Mission. The table of the missions gives the date of its founding as 
1730. 

This is the most elegant and beautiful of all the Texas missions, but vandal 
hands have far exceeded the ravages of time in its defacement, so that now much of 
its former beauty is gone. The celebrated artist Huica was sent from Spain at the time 
of the founding of this mission, and spent several years in carving the various orna- 
mentations of the building, its numerous statues, etc., few of which now remain. 
The ruin, however, ^\ill well repay a visit. 

A visitor to the mission, in 1876, thus describes it as it then appeared: 

" The principal doorway is a wonderful work of sculptural art. In height it is 
about thirty- five ieet. Fronting the door, which is semicircular, there is a sculp- 
ture of foliage and scriptural emblems intermixed. On the right stands a statue of 
St. Joseph ; and on the lelt of the Virgin Mother and infant Saviour. Above the 
keystone of the arch is the statue representing the Virgin in the posture which, 
in ecclesiastical art, indicates the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, the arms 
partly raised and extended, with palms of the hands turned outward. Above this 
is a large window, with ornamental surroundings of sacred emblems, flowers, and 
foliage. There are also three statues of friars, in the habit of their order. It is 
noteworthy that the female statues are less true to nature than those which represent 
the men and the children, of which there are several in the form of winged cherubs. 
The Madonna has the square jaw and hard ieatures which are seldom found save in 
women whose lot has been lull of danger, suffering, and hardship. The statue of 
St. Joseph and those of the friars are excellent. The good lathers would not sacri- 
fice nature to art when they knew it, for in sculpturing the Sacred Heart, which is 
several times prominently repeated, they made no imaginary one, as is now univer- 
sally done, but represented one as faithlully as if just dissected, with the seam that 
divides tlie ventricles clearly depicted, and the cut ends of the aoerta showing. San 
Jose was perhaps four times the size of the others. Its baptistry window is almost 
equal to the main door in sculptural beauty. The ruins are very extensive, more 
than half the walls having fallen. A few Mexicans live near and care for the Chapel, 
which was a model of rude neatness. The nice, clever, and evidently pious Mexican 
matron who brought the kej' for our entrance, had hung the altar with gaudy patch- 
work quilts of her own manufacture. The most exquisite tapestry coidd not have 
told the story of her devout love more plainly. There were some old pictures which 
in the dim twilight of the setting sun could not be well seen. Every part of the 
ruined chapel was arranged with neatness and decency. The floor of the sacrist ry, 
and that of the baptistry, which we could not enter, had been paved with tiles of 
home manufacture. The clay was procured in the vicinity, and they are equal to 
any of European manufacture. This clay will one day be made the foundation of a 
valuable industry. 



34 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

THE THIRD MISSION. 

About six miles below the city, on tln^ rii^ht or west bank of the San A-ntonio 
River, is the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, which was founded in 1716, but is 
now in ruins. The ruins, however, speak volumes for the skill of the architect 
who designed and the laborers who erected the edifice. In general stjie it differs 
from all the other missions. The holy Father stationed there is po.ssessdd of a rich 
fund of information regarding its early history, which he delights to tell to appre- 
ciative visitors. 

THE FOURTH MISSION. 

Continuing on the same course down the river, and at a distance of about nine 
miles below the city, is the Mission of San Francisco de la Espada, founded in 1716. 
It was first located on the banks of the Medina River, but in 1730 was moved to its 
present location on account of the frequent attacks of the Apaches. Portions of 
the walls and the sword shaped tower are still standing. 

THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN FERNANDO. 

This noble edifice was never a mission, but, we are informed, was built by sub- 
scription about the year 1733, on its present site between the Main and Military 
Plazas, and was used as a parish church. As will be seen by reference to the illus- 
trations, the front of the old building has been replaced by a modern structure, 
which is used as the auditorium of the Cathedral, while a poniou of the old building 
forms the sanctuary, and can be seen in all of its ancient beauty from the Military 
Plaza. The erection of the new portion was commenced in 1868, the laying of the 
corner stone of this portion being on the 27th of September of that year. 

The interior of this Cathedral is very interesiing to residents as well as visitors. 
The appointments are rich and complete, and alihougli tiie towers and the external 
front is not completed, the interior is perfect. On the right and front of the sanc- 
tuary stands a life-size and beautifully carved statue of the Blessed Virgin. This 
statue is the gift of Major Joseph E. Dwyer, one of the nio>t prominent and public 
spirited citizens of San Antonio, who, possessed of ample wealth, has not forgotten 
his Mother Church. On the left and front of the sanctuary stands a life-size and 
ver^' expressive statue of St. Joseph, which is the gift of the late Honore Grenet, an 
adopted citizen from la belle France, who was himself adopted as a brother in the 
hearts of his fellow citizens, and whose many acts of charily cause his memory to be 
revered by all who knew him. 

This old Cathedral, could it speak, would tell of very many important events 
which have occurred in and around it. It is to be reg-retted that so few records of 
them exist today. From the old tower, now torn down, was displayed the blood- 
red flag of the butcher Santa Anna during the memorable siege and sacrifice of the 
heroes of the Alamo. Other Spanish and Mexican trenerals at limes displayed from 
the same tower Itje red and black flags and their own banners, but history proves 
that during all those troublous times, even with ihe tide of battle surging up to its 
very doors, the altars of the holy church were never profaned nor deserted by its 
priests. 

In more modern times this Cathedral has been the scene of many interesting 
events, but the limits of this book necessitate only a passing notice of a very few of 
them. On the 27th of December, 1874, Right Rev. Anthony Dominic Pelicer was 
formally installed in this Cathedral as the first Bishop of Sun Antonio, and on the 
17th of April. 1880, he was buried in the same Cathedral immediately to the front of 
the sanctuary. Both of these ceremonials were intensely solemn, and were made 
still more so by the large attendance of digniia-ies and officers of the Catholic 
Church. Here, also, on the 19th of March, ^1878, Right Rev. John C. Neraz, the 
present Bishop of San Antonio, then Pastor of the Cathedral, celebrated his silver 
jubilee, or twenty-fifth anniversary of his consecration as a priest. Besides the then 
Bishop of San Antonio, thei'e were present the Right Rev. Francisco de Paula 
Verea, former Bishop of Monterey, and present Bishop of Puebla de los Angles, 
and twenty-three priests. On the 8th of May, 1881, the Right Rev. John C. Neraz 
was here consecrated the second Bishop of San Antonio, with the most imposing 
ceremonials of the Catholic Church. 

The present pastor of this Cathedral is Rev. Father Louis Genolin, a deep 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 85 

scholar and very entertaining gentleman, to whom the author is indebted for much 
valuable information regarding this Cathedral, as well as the early history of the 
Catholic Church in San Francisco. 

The hours of Sunday services during the winter months are: Low Mass, 7:30 
A.M.; High Mass, 10 A.M.; Vespers, 8 P.M. During the summer mon'hs the 
hours of services are: Low Mass. 7 A.M.; High Mass, 10 A.M.; Vespers, 4 P.M. 
On calemn days the night Vespers are at 7 P.M. 

There are a number of church societies attached to the Cathedral, and it is ex- 
pected that others will be added soon. 

ST. Mary's c:njRCH. 

This beautiful church was erected some fifteen years ago, and is the church of 
the American Catholics of Sau Antonio. In architecture it is strikingly grand, while 
its interior decorations are arti.stic and beautiful. The congregation is very large 
and wealthy, and includes many of the most honored families of the city. Its loca- 
tion is central, and at the same time off of the travelled thoroughfares of ihe ciiy, yet 
is near all of the street car lines and the principal business streets. Fronting on St. 
Mary's Street, with a foot bridge crossing the river at its front and side, with the 
Bishop's residence adjoining and the Catholic College in the rear, it is in a peculiarly 
religious neighborhood, yet with Houston Street to the north and Commerce Street 
to the south, it is conveniently handy for residents of any portion of the city. 

The Pastor, Very Rev. Canon Thomas J. Johr.son, is one of the most eminent 
.scholars among the Catholic clergy of this city, all of whom are noted as being very 
learned men. Father Johnson is also very well versed in the ancient history of the 
Catholic Missions of Texas, and has for several years been engaged in the prepara- 
tion of a valuable work upon this interesting subject. 

His assistant. Rev. Father H. A. Milrao, is a young priest of rare attainments, 
and gives promise of becoming a shining j.ghl in the church. 

The hours of services are: Low Mass, 7A.M.; High Mass 10 A.M. ; and Vespers 
at 5 P M. in the summer, and at 4 P.M. in the winter. 

There are a number of societies connected with this parish, all of which aid in 
parish work. 

ST. Joseph's church. 

This is the German Catholic Church of San Antonio, and is located on Alameda 
Street, the continuation of Commerce Street, and near Alamo Street, along which 
the San Pedro Park hne of street cars passes. This is another of the notable 
churches of this city, and is located near the place where the bodies of tlie T( xan 
liernes of the Alamo were burned in an immense funeral pyre immediately after the 
memorable sacrifice. The church building is con.strucled of stone, as are all the 
Cat'ioiic churches of this city, and is handsomely decorated within, and has a num- 
ber of memorial gifts from pious parishoners. 

Rev. Father Henry Pefferkorn, the pa^5tor, is an eminent German scholar as well 
as a faithful Father to his flock. The regular Sunday services include Low Mass at 
7 A..M. in summer and 7:30 A.M. in winter ; High Mass at 10 A.M. and Vespers at 
3:30 P.M. 

There are a number of societies connected with the parish as well as an admir- 
ably conducted parish school. 

ST. Michael's polish catholic church. 

This church was consecrated with the full ceremonials of the Catholic Church 
on the 6th of January, 1868, and is situated on the southeast side of South Street, 
between Matagorda and Indianola Streets. The building is eighty by twenty-seven 
feet in size, and the services are in Polish, being a great convenience to our Polish 
citizens. The St. Albert's, St. Stephen's, and St. Vincent de Paul Societies are 
auxiliary to the church work. The spiritual director is Rev. Stanislaus Wojcie- 
chowski, and the hours of Sunday services are, in winter, High Mass at 9 A.M., 
and in summer, High Mass at 10 A.M., and Vespers at 3 P.M. 

THE URSULmE CONVENT. 

This is an educational, as well as a religious institution, and is mentioned again 



36 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



under the head of the educational institutions of the city. It is situated in a bend, 
and on the banks of the river, near ISoledad Street, and directly on Convent and 
Augusta Streets. Rev. Father R. E M. Biiffard is the Pastor, and the Sunday 
services in the church are: Low Mass at 6:30 A.M., and Vespers at 4 P.M.; Sunday 
scliool at 9:30 A.M. To strangers this ctiurch possesses great interest, and the 
Reverend Father ia charge will prove a very entertaining guide to visitors. 

EPISCOPAL. 

San Antonio being the residence of the Riglit Rev. R. "W. B. Elliott, Bisliop of 
Western Texas, the Episcopal Cathedral is also located there, and is known as the 

CATHEDRAL OP ST. MARK. 

St. Mark's Parish was organized by the Rev. Lucius H. Jones, in 1858, and the 
corner-stone of the present edifice was laid in December, 1859. After the work had 
progressed so that the walls were partially reared, the war between the two sections 
coming on put a stop to the work. The walls stood until they grew quite gray 
from the inliuences of the elements, and not until July, 1873, was work resumed 
to complete the edifice. Meantime, Mr. Jones had passed away, having died while 
a chaplain of the Confederate army in Louisiana. The work of building up and 
completing the parish church was undertaken by the Rev. W. R. Richardson, who 




EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL. 



became rector of the parish on the 1st of June, 1868. Mr. Richardson is now 
dean of the Cathedral, one of the most handsome church edifices in the South, 
and to hi.s zeal and indefatigable earnestness is due the main credit of having 
accomplished what has been done. The building cost, as it now stands, embracing 
the elegant furniture, beautiful windows, and general fixtures, in round numbers, 
thirty thousand dollars. 

The first service was held in St. Mark's on Easter Day, 1875, and was a grand 
event in the history of the church in this city, for its ministers and membership 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 87 

had struggled hard and constantly to obtain a suitable building of their own to 
worship in. At the time of the first service the building was not fully furnished, 
and was burdened with a debt of eight thousand dollars. !Six years after, on 
St. Mark's Day (April 25), A.D. 1881, the entire debt having been paid, the beauti- 
ful Cathedral was dedicated to the service of God with the full ceremonials of 
the Episcopal Church, there being a large attendance of distinguished prelates and 
div.'nes of that belief. 

The Cathedral of St. Mark is essentially a memorial offering to the Almighty. 
The building is artistic in design and CDmplete in all its appointments, and much 
of its ornamentation is the handiwork of the Dean, the Rev. W. R. Ricliardsfin, 
while all the designs for the beautiful memorial windows attest his correct artistic 
taste. The church building is constructed of cream-colored limestone from local 
quarries, ■ and is from plans by the elder Upjohn, a celebrated architect, late of 
New York, and is, in its general style, Gothic, modified to suit the exigencies of 
our almost tropical climate; the winilows being in triplets, very low and broad, 
with miillions and floriated heads instead of the h'gh, narrow-pointed style of the 
true Gothic. Under each of the windows proper there are louvre openings, reaching 
from the window-sills to the floor, and fitted with a sash hung upon pivots; the 
architectural effect being outwardly that of a deeply-recessed panelling beneath the 
windows, while the practical benefit is to give full play to the summer breezes, 
so neces-ary to comfort in this climate. The body of the church is divided into 
nave and aisles, while the apsidal chancel contains the choir and sanctuary. 
The organ chamber is on the north and the vestry-room on the south of the 
chancel. The roof is open-timbered and finished in polychrome. The dimensions 
are: extreme length, one hundred feet; width, fiity-six feet; height of walls, twenty 
feet; height to ridge, forty-eight feet, and to top of cross, fifty-four feet. The 
building has seating capacity for six hundred persons. • 

As we stated above, this Cathedral is essentially a memorial offering to the 
Almighty. The baptismal font is a memorial of little Charlie, the first born of 
Major and Mis. H. B. Adams, and is the gift of the parents. The altar slab and 
re table, of Italian marble, is a memorial of Mrs. Barbara Reed, ihe mother of the 
late Erastus Reed, the donor. The polished brass altar desk is a memorial of Mrs. 
L. Richardson, the mother of the Dean of the Cathedral. It was paid for from the 
proceeds of the sale of the valuable flowers Mrs. Richard'^on had at the time of her 
death, and which she expressed a desire to have take the form of a contribution to 
the Cathedral. The massive walnut chancel rail, with its beautifully carved brack- 
ets, is the gift of General C. C. Augur, U. S A. The solid walnut sedilia, on the 
north side of the chancel, isthogift of iheRev. Dr. Batterson.of Philadelphia, who was 
at one time in charge of St. Mark parish. The beautiful and rich toned organ is 
largely due to the liberal contributions of the U, S. army ofiicers stationed in this 
department. 

MEMORIAL WIjSDOWS. 

Each window in the Cathedral is a memorial gift, yet they are arranged with 
such perfect taste that harmony is preserved while admitting a wide range in sub- 
jects. There is not a cheap thing about the edifice, and especially are the windows 
rich in all their details. No description could give a perfect conception of the gen- 
eral effect of these works of art, for such they are, but the following brief notices 
■will serve as a guide to visitors, and as such it is only intended. 

THE JONES MEMORIAL. 

The first of these windows in point of time of erection is located on the north 
side of the Cathedral, near tlie organ, and is in memory of the first Rector of the 
parish. Like all the windows, it is in the form of a triple tablet, pointed at the top, 
and surmounted by a trefoil arch. The central tablet represents a life size Roman 
soldier, with his arms disc;irded, and bearing a palm branch in his hand, which is 
explained by the words on the tablets on either side of it: '"I hcive fought the good 
fight," ' I have kept the faith." Above all are tablets showing the arms of a Chris- 
tian soldier, as enumerated by St. Paul. At the bottom are the words, "In memory 
of the Rev. Lucius Henry Jones, A.M., first Rector of this parish. Entered into 



38 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

life October 10, A.D. ISfiB," the date of his death, while serving as chaplain during 
the late war. This beautiful and expressive window was the gift of the brother of 
the deceased Rector, Mr. Alnnzo P. Jones, of Boston, Mass. 

THE MAVERICK MEMORIAL. 

Immediately opposite this window, on the south side of the Catheelrai, if? one of 
great beauty, and is designated as the offering of Mrs. M. A., Sam, and Sallie F. 
Maverick, for the miraculous escape of Sam Slaverick Jr., when a tree fell upon 
and crushed the house in which he was. The central tablet represents a highly col- 
ored and life size figure of the Saviour holding a child by the hand. The right hand 
t;iiilet hears the inscription, "Their angels do always behold the face of my Father 
which is in Heaven," and the left haiid tablet the words, "Now, therefore, our God, 
we thank Thee and praise Thy glorious name." BeautifuUy colored guardian angels 
are shown in large tablets above the central scrolls, while winged-heads are seen on 
either side of the top central tablet, which contains the triangle in a golden glory, 
and having in its centre the all-seeing eye of Providence. The bottom tablet, or 
rather across the bottom of the tablet, is the inscription, " Thursday, June 19, 1873, 
4:30 P.M. Ad Gloriam Dei. By Mrs. M. A., Sam, and SaUie F. Maverick." 

THE BELL MEMORIAL. 

Continuing on the same side of the Cathedral, the next window is the memorial 
window presented by Miss Maggie Bell, in memory of her little niece. This is one 
of the most touching and expressive memorials in the Cathedral. The central tab- 
let contains a group after Reichtel, being an angel bearing a little child to Heaven, 
and surrounded by lesser spirits. The tablets on either side bear the inscriptions: 
"These are tliey which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," " For they are 
without fault before the throne of God." Above these are a series of smaller tablets 
containing a c-ross with a broken lily, a silver cord, and golden boAvl broken, emblems 
of the death of a child; a white dove, with the word " Vivam " under it, an emblem 
of t'le continued life of the soul; a marble tomb with recumbent figure on it and 
morning glories; chrysalis and butterfly, with " Resurgam " below, emblematical 
that the child shall rise again. At the top centre is a beautiful golden jewel case, 
with a scroll bearing the words, "Jewels of the Lord," v/hile on either side are 
scrolls bearing the words, " They shall be Mine, sayeth the Lord of hosts;" "Is it 
well with the child? It is well;" " To the glory of God and in memory of Baby Bell, 
aged two years and nine months." The border of this window is composed of white 
rosebuds and lilies of the valley. 

THE KAMPMANN MEMORIAL. 

The next window on the south side of the Cathedral is a thank offering by 
Mrs. Caroline Kampmann for her restoration to health after a severe and almost 
fatal illness. The central tablet contains a life-size representation of the Saviour 
and the Woman of Samaria, brilliantly colored and of exquisite workmanship. On 
either side are large tablets bearing texts irom the Evening Chant: "Prai.se the Lord 
oh my soul, and forget not all His" benefits;" " Who forgivethall thy sin and healeth 
all thine infirmities." Above are smaller tablets bearing two five-pointed stars, the 
ancient symbol of health, the five perfect points representing the five members of 
the human body in perfect soundness. In the centre of one of these stars is the 
G:eek word " Ichthus," which ccjntains the titles and name of the Saviour, "Jesus 
Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour." In the centre of the other .star is the Greek 
word " Ugeia." meaning health. The top centre tablet contains a beautiful paint- 
ing representing the Lamb triumphant, with croj-s and banner, all on a white rock, 
from which gush forth four fountains, representing the Four Gospels. There are two 
smaller tablets on either side of the central tablet, one bearing the words: "Ho 
every one that thirsteth," "Come ye to the waters," and on either side of these tab- 
lets, one with the bread used in the rnmmunion service, and the words, " I am the 
Bread of Life," and the other the cup, and the words, "I am the True Vine." At 
the bottom of the window is the following inscription: " The gift of God is eternal 
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. To the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost," and the name of the donor. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 89 

THE MINTER MEMORIAIi- 

The last window nearest the door on tlie south side of the Cathedral Is the gift 
of Mrs. J. F. Minter, and is emblematical of the Holy Communion. The central 
tablet contains a rustic cross overrun with the vine, bearing five bunches of grapes, 
representing the five wounds of our Lord upon the cross. The tablet to the right 
contains the inscription: '' The bread which we break." The tablet on the left con- 
tains the words: " The cup which we bless." Above, and on either side are tablets 
containing flowers, typical of remembrance and hope. The top center shields have, 
one a sheaf of wheat, and the other a bunch of grapes, while at the extreme t^p and 
centre are a silver cup and a gold plate with a beautiful wreath of flowers. Smaller 
tablets on either side at tl; e extreme top contain the inscriptions: " I am the Bread 
of Life," •" 1 am the True Vine." Belowjall is the inscription: "The communion of 
the body and blood of Christ. To the glory of the only wise God our Saviour," and 
the name of the donor. 

YOUNG people's MEMORIAL. 

On the north side of the Cathedral, and next to the western entrance, is a window 
presented by the young ladies and young gentlemen of the parish. The central 
tablet contains a branch of oak and spray "of lilies. The side tablets contain the 
texts: "Praise the Lord ye young men," "Praise him ye maidens" Above are 
shields bearing the sword and shield, emblematical of the good tight of faith, and the 
vase with the annunciation lily, emblematical of the Blessed Virgin. At the 
extreme top and centre is a shield with the cross and crown. The bordering is of 
oak leaves and acorns and lilies, in silver and gold arabesque. 

THE YOUNG FAMILY MEMORIAL. 

The next window, on the north side of the Cathedral towards the altar, is 
explained by a brass tablet beneath it, which reads: '' To the glory of God, and in 
memory of the rescue of Hugh Hampton Young from drowning, by his mother, Nov. 
10th, A. D.,1S74. Erected by his grandfather and parents, Hugh F., "W. H., and 
Francis Kemper Young." The central tablet of the window contains a half life-size 
figure of the Virgin Mary and the infant Saviour, to whom the child, John the Bap- 
tist is presenting a reed cross bearing a scroll with the words, " Ecce Agnus De: " — 
Behold the Lamb of God; while in his left hand beholds a sea shell, emblematic of 
baptism. The tablet on the right bears the figures of St. Timothy learning the 
Scriptures from his mother and grandmother, while the tablet on the left is a lieau- 
tiful representation of thp finding of Moses in the bullrushes by Pharaoh's daughter. 
Above are tablets representing tj|f table of the law surrouded by clouds and "light- 
ning, representing the law of wrath, while on the opposite side is a tablet showing 
the open gospel surmounted by a golden glory, representing the law of love. 
Between these are two tablets bearing interlaced triangles with the Greek letters 
Alpha and Omega, across the first being the Greek word Arche, and across the second 
the Greek ,word Telos. The top central tablet bears a golden crown in a glory, 
while from the crown protrude the cross, crook, and key, the whole being surrounded 
by a golded circle bearing the words: "Lux, Dux, Rex, Lex," signifying Light, 
Leader, King, Law. The general idea of the design is to show the unity of the 
church withthe old and the new dispensations. 

THE CHURCH MEMORIAL. 

The remainining window on the north side of the Cathedral, not previously 
described, is the result of general contributions of all the commimicants, and is 
emblematical of hope. The central tablet has a hand holding the cross of faith in 
a golden glory, while above are tablets ccmtaining an anchor and a dove. The text 
given at the bottom of all explains the design : "That through patience and the 
comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MEMORIAL. 

At the rear of the Cathedral, quite elevated, is a large triple window, the gift 
of the children of the Sund;i3--schoo] of the parish. The centre window shows a 
pelican feeding her young with her own blood, emblematic that Christ shed His 



40 THE ALAMO CITT GUIDE. 

blood for children, and in the top a baptismal font. The other windows bear, one 
the palm, emblematic of praise, and the other lilies of the valley in a wreath, 
emblematical of innocence, and a large scroll running: through all three of the windows 
bears the word "Hosannah " three times repeated. Below and across the windows are 
the words: "To the glory of the holy child Jesus, and the children in the Temple 
crying Hosannah to the sou of David. By the children of the Sunday-school." 

THE ST. MATTHEW WINDOW. 

Iq the chancel, which is beautifully decorated with wreaths and flowers and 
potted plants, are five beautiful windows, four of which repieseut the four Evan- 
gelists. The first of these on the left bears the wini^ed man. emblematical of St. 
Matthew, above which are the letters, I. H. S. This a memorial of Lewis A. 
Maverick, by his mother. 

THE ST. MARK WINDOW. 

The next window is emblematical of St. Mark, and bears his emblem of the 
winged lion, above which is the crown of thorns, within which are the letters, 
I. N. R. I. This is the gift of Major J. F. Minter, in memory of his father and 
mother. 

THE ST. LUKE WINDOW, 

On the right of the center window is one to St. Luke, and bears his emblem, 
the winged calf, at the top of which is the double crown of royalty and high- 
priesthood. This window was not a special gift. 

THE ST. JOHN WINDOW. 

On the right of the lact window is one given by Mrs. Bradley, in memory of 
her husband and children, and contains the eagle, the emblem of St. John, above 
which is a combination of the Greek Alpha and Omega. 

THE MACLIN MEMORIAL. 

The central window in the chancel, and immediately above the altar, is the 
gift of Miss Annie Sweet, in memory of Mrs. A. J. Maclin and her sons, Robert, 
Thomas, and John. The central medallion shows the Lamb triumphant, bearing the 
cross and banner, the emblem of love, and the whole is bordered with grapes and 
wheat. 

The windows on the right of the chancel are typical of the humanity of Christ 
while those on the left typify His divinity. ^* 




An exceedingly interesting historical feature about St. Mark's is its bell, whicb 
hangs in a small bell-gable over the vestry door, and was cast from a cannon found 
buried near the ou er wall of the Alamo, in what is now the grounds of the old 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 41 

Maverick homestead on the corner of Houston Street and Avenue D, and fronting 
the Alamo Plaza. This gun was of nearly pure copper, and was presented to the 
church by Colonel Samuel A. Maverick to be cast into a bell, and was sent to 
Messrs. Meneely & Co. of Troy, N. Y., and cast by them in 18T4 The bell weighs 
five hundred and twenty-six pounds, ami bears the following inscriptions, viz., a 
Texas star with the word Alamo in the center, and above it the date 1813 (the time 
Oi the Magee Expedition, when the gun is supposed to have been dismantled and 
buried), and below it 1836, to commemorate the massacre at the Alamo, near whose 
walls it was found. 

Under this are the words: "Presented by Colonel Samuel A. Maverick," and 
on the opposite side of the bell, these lines : " ' Ye must be born again,' the Master 
said, and spake of man's new birth by water and the spirit. I too have been born 
again from works of death to words of life through Christ's eternal merit." 

The musical services of the Cathedral are led by a surpliced choir of twenty- 
five choristers, regularly organized into a choral society called " The Choristers of 
St. Mark," who by their punctuality and zeal nave contributed greatly to the 
interest and attractiveness of the services. A Chorister Library Association has 
been organized by them for mutual improvement, by which it is hoped to supplant 
the trashy " Boys Weeklies " and dime novels by works and papers of a healthier 
tone, and thereby to cultivate a higher taste in literature. 

Among the devices for parish work is the " Ladies' Parish Aid Society," organ- 
ized in 1874, and which has been most efficient and faithful. They have raised in 
various ways «;ince their organization upwards of seven thousand dollars for church 
work, aud while organized, more especially to aid in building the church and in 
paying the debt upon the church, they have not been unmindful of the poor. 

An efficient and zealous Altar Society is also one of the valuable agencies of 
church work. Their especial sphere of labor is in the beautifying of the'sanctuary 
and the preparation and care of the vestments of the choir and the hangings for the 
altar and other church furniture ; they also in their ministerings forget not the poor. 

The Sunday-school is very large and thriving. Its work has been largely con- 
ducive to the present prosperity of the parish, and a memorial window in the Cathe- 
dral attests the love of the little ones for the house of God. 

We append a few statistics of parish growth taken from an address delivered 
by Dean Richardson, on Trinity Sunday, June 4, 1883, that being the fourteenth 
anniversary of his rectorship of the parish. 

Number of families belonging to the parish on his accession to the rec- 
torship in 1868 75 

Present number ... 215 

Number of communicants in 1868 90 

Present number 805 

This is an increase of about two hundred and fifty at present, or twice 
the rate of increase of the city's population from 11,000 in 1868, to 
25,000 in 1883, about one hundred and twenty-five per cent. 

Baptisms 396 

Confirmations 236 

Marriages 93 

Burials 110 

The total contributions for all church purposes are about $70,000.00, and the 
value of the church property, including the mission chapels of St. Luke and St. 
John and the St. Mary's Hail, Diocesan School, is $50,000.00. 

Bi-shop Elliott is a very enthusiastic worker, and has secured other property in 
various portions of the city, on which other churches will be erected in the near 
future. 

The regular services at the Cathedral are: Sundays, at 11 A.M. and 8 P.M. in 
summer, aud 7 P M. in winter. Special services on all holy days at stated hours, 
and also on Fridays at 6 P.M. in summer, and 5 P.M. in winter, Sundav-school, 
9:30 A.M. 



42 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

The Diocesan school is mentioned under the head of the educational institutions 
of this city. 

EPISCOPAL CHAPELS. 

It is the purpose of the Ri^ht Rev. R. W. B. Elliott, D.D., Bishop of the Mis- 
sionary District of Western Texas, to extend the Episcopal work in the city of San 
Antonio. One of the means adopted to accomplish this most desirable object is the 
establishment of Mission Chapels in different portions of the city remote from the 
Cathedral. At these chapels the children of the neighborhood are gathered into 
Sunday-schools and carefully instructed, and the services of the church are regu- 
larly^ held for the benefit of the people. At present, there are only two chapels — 
St. Luke's and St. John's; but the Bishop has ground in oilier parts cf the city upon 
which he will erect suitable buildings, as they maybe required. 

St. Luke's Ciiapel (corner Leoiia and Zavala streets) is a very neat and com- 
fortable place of worship, with the sittings free. 

St. John's Chapel is situated on Austin Street, near the Sunset Depot. The 
congregation and Sunday-school which assemble at this point now occupy a rented 
house, which furnishes ample accommodations. The permanent Chapel building 
will soon be ei'ected. The above chapels are specially ])resided over by Rev. Wd- 
liam Cabanass, an earnest and energetic divine, who is very enthusiastic in his work. 

FIRST PRESBTTERIAN CHURCH OF SAN ANTONIO. 

In the year 1842, Rev. John ^!cCullough, a Presbyterian minister, visited San 
Antonio. He found it a miserable and dilapidated looking place, affording ocular 
demonstration of desolating war and ruinous raids. Nearly one half of the houses 
around the Plaza were roofless, or leaky, or empty — many of tbcm used as stables 
to protect horses from the Indians. He preached here, but did not remain. In the 
spring of 1845 he again visited the city. He found four or five American families, 
and a half dozen young men. In June, 1846, he organized a Presbyterian church, 
the first Protestant church ever organized in San Antonio. Mr. McCnllough was 
now acting in the employ of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian 
Church of the United States. The organization w:is small, only iive or six members 
constituting it. Mr. Charles D. Sayer was elected the first Ruling Elder. A Sab- 
bath School was started in connection with the church, Mr. McCullough, in 
addition to his work of serving the church, taught a school of white and Mexican 
children. 

In 1846 Mr. McCullough purchased a lot on Commerce Street, next to the lot 
now occupied by the residence of Mr. John James, and in the summer of 184,' an 
adobe house was erected for a church. The house was enchased with roof, doors, 
floor, windows, and plain seats — the whole costing $1,200. This adobe house was 
the first, and, for a number of yenrs, the only Protestant place of worship in the 
city. Tlie organization thus described ceased to exist in 1849, owing to the death 
and removal of most of its members. 

In 18ol, and on the I9th of October, Rev. Daniel Baker, D.D., so well known 
throughout the southwest as the great Evangelist, reorganized the first Presbyterian 
Church of San Antonio. The following members were enrolled : 

Samuel Newton, Mrs. John Vance, 

John C. Atwater, Mrs. Ann Walker, 

Frank McC. Newton, Miss Lucy Jane Newton. 

Mr. Samuel Newton, and Mr. John C. Atwater were elected and installed ruling 
elders. Soon after this organization Rev, Mr. Baldwin, of Virginia, occupied the 
pulpit, and preached for tliis church for eighteen mouths. In 1S53, Rev. J. P. Hen- 
dricks, of Kentucky, supplied the church with a sermon once or twice a month. 

After Mr. Hciidricksleft, Rev. T. H. Leekey, of the Presbytery of New Orleans, 
supplied the pulpit for about six months. 

In November, 1855, Rev. R. F. Bunting, D.D., who was then preaching in La 
Grange, Texas, was invited to become pastor of this church. He accepted the invi- 
tation and remained with the church until the spring of 1^61, when the war broke 
out, and Dr. Bunting entered the Confederate Army as chaplain of the 'I'exas 
Rangers. Dr. Bunting did a great work for the church. Alter raising some $8,0C0 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 43 

in San Antonio, he visited other States in 1860, and raised $6,000 more for the erec- 
tion of the present handsome stone church on tlie corner of Flores and Houston 
Streets. The corner stone of this edifice was laid in February, 1860. 

Tlie San Antonio Herald of Marcli 2, 1860, says : " A large assemblasje of our 
citizens gathered upon the ground at the corner of Flores and Houston Streets, on 
the evening of February 29, to witness the ceremony of laying the corner stone of 
the First Presbytrrian Cliurcli of San Antonio. 

The Pastor, Rev. R. F. Bunting, read Psalm xlviii., and 2d Chronicles, ii., 1-13. 

The Pastor then spoke briefly of the occasion and its importance to the city. 

Rev. Je-sie Boring, D.D., of tlie Methodist Church, led in prayer. 

The corner stone was then put in place and the following deposits placed in it : 
Holy Bible, Confession of Faith, Hymn Book, copies of city papers, daily and 
weekly Herald, brief report of history ot Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, roll 
of church members, names of subscribers of church building, making a total of 
$15,000; a draught of Old Church on Commerce Street. 

After this the stone was struck three times by the Pastor, and, in the name of the 
Holy Trinity, was laid. 

Rev. L. H. Jones, of the Episcopal Church, then pronounced the Apostolic 
Benediction. The church thus begun was not finished until November 80, 1879, 
when it was dedicated, just twenty years after the corner stone was laid. After the 
war, in August, 1806, Rev. J. F. Martin, of Missouri, became the paslfir, and 
remained witli the church until 1871, when Rev. J. H. Tively was called as pa-tor, 
and remained for only a few months. In June, 1872, Rev. J. W. Neil, of Muifrecsbjro, 
Tennessee, became the pastor, and has ever since served the church. There are now 
two hundred communicants on the roll. The church has six elders, to wit : F. 
McC. Newton, J. D. Geddis, J. D. Stevenson, A. Wood, II. H. Means, and H. K. 
Northway. The following are deacons: J. W. Glass, P. H.Ward, Tom Wren, W. 
B. Hamilton, and J. B. Moflfett. 

There is a flourishing Sabbath-school of two hundred pupils and twenty-five 
teachers, superintended by J. D. Stevenson. The large church is filled every Sab- 
bath with a most intelligent congregation. Its influence is second to no Protestant 
congregation in the city. Soon they hope to begin a mission work in the Second or 
Fourth Ward, which it is expected will speedily result in another church. 

The regular Sunday services are as follows: At 11 A.M. and 8 P.M , with 
Sunday school at 9:o0 A.M. A prayer meeting is held every Wednesday at 8 P M. 

The Pastor, Rev. J. W. Neil, is noted as being one of the most earnest workers 
of the Protestant clergy in this city, as well as being one of the most effective 
orators and close reasoners in Western Texas. As a ripe scholar and liberal 
Christian, in the true meaning of the term, he is second to none. 

[Note. — As this book is e-oiug to press, an effort is being made to organize a 
Cumberland Presbyterian Churcu in San Antonio, and the efl'orl will undoubtedly 
be crowned with success.] 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

The first Methodist sermon preached in San Antonio, so far as is known, was 
delivered by a preacher of this church, who came to the city in 1844 in company 
with a minister of the Presbyterian Church. (This preacher — Rev. J. W. De Vilbis 
— still lives near the city. ) In 184(5 a missionary was appointed to the field, and 
from that time to this the authorities of the church have, according to the custom 
of the church, annually sent a preacher to the church. During this time the church 
has met with varied success — now flourishing, and now seemingly a failure. At 
present the church is in an excellent condition every way. The Sunday-school is 
well attended; members are constantly being received both by letter and in profes- 
sion of faith. The attendance on church worship is large, one remarkable fact 
being the unusually large attendance of young men, and of persons formerlj' not 
in the habit of visiting any church. Dunng the last two years the membership has 
increased from eighty to nearly two hundred. 

The present church building was built in 1852; and, while it is perfectly safe, 
is becoming very dilapidated. A lot has been secured in a beautiful locality — on 
the southwest corner of Travis and Navairo Streets— and enough has been raised 
to begin a new church; the work will be started in a month or two. It will be a 



44 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



large, comfortable structure, and, with Mr. Dobson as architect, we feel assured it 
will be both ueat and beautiful. The present Pastor is the Rev. W. J. Young, a 
preacher of ^reat power and marked ability. The Sunday-school Superintentendent 
is Dr. J E. Breeding. 

The hours of Sunday services conform with those of other Protestant churches 
in the city, being at 11 A.M. and at 8 P.M., with Sunday-school at 9:^0 A.M A 
Prayer Meeting is held each Wednesday at 8 P.M. 

MADISON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized February 19. 18S2 by Rev. Wm. Howell Buchanan, 
under the care of the Presbytery of Austin, and in connection with the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. It is a child 
of the old National Ir'resbyterian General Assembly, which has under its care 
churches in every State and Territory in the United States of America, except two. 
Viz : Alabama and Mississippi. Madison Square Church is located on the corner 




MADISON SQUAWE PUESBYTEKIAN CHURCH. 



of Camden Street and Lexington Avenue, and fronts on Madison Square, in the 
Second Ward. It is a handsome Gothic structure, built of rubble stone. It is 
tastefully finished and furnished, with frescoed walls and ceiling, and stained glass 
windows. It is ea^y of access by the Alamo and San Pedro Springs Street Car 
Line, two blocks northeast from' the Camden Street switch. Its regular services 
are as follows: Preaching every Sabbath at 11 o'clock A.M. and 8 o'clock P.M. 
Sabbath-school at 10 o'clock every Sabbath morning, and 4 o'clock in the afternoon; 
and prayer meeting every Wednesday night at 8 o'clock. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 45 

At this (late (1883), the following are its oflQcers: Rev. Wm. Howell Buchanan, 
Pastor; Captain J. B. Irvine and George W. Konkle, Ruling Elders. 

Oenrge W. Breckenridge, Geo. W. Konkle, H. H. McClean, J. B. Irvine, and 
Major D. N. Bash, Trustees. 

They extend a standing invitation to citizens and strangers to attend its 
services. 

TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

Represents the Methodism first organized in this country, which knows no 
" North " or '• South," or atiy form of sectionalism; which has proven true to the 
Union and the whole human race, and which spreads over the whole country. It 
stands on a beautiful site, at the corner of Avenue C and Pecan Street. The edifice 
is of stone, of pleasing and unique design, containing a beautiful audience room, 
and a chapel, with a gallery over it. It is neatly frescoed, finely finished, and has 
elegant siained-glass windows. It seats five hundred people, and is, doubtle.ss, the 
most cheerful and convenient church establishment in our city, as well as the most 
eligibly located. Street-cars pass its doors, making it accessible from every part of 
the city. 

Its existence is due to the efforts of the Rev. M. A. Daugherty, its first pastor, 
seconded by a- few leading men of the city, who felt that such an enterprise 
was needed. The results have justified their opinion, although many thought it 
unwise, and some opposed openly. It has awakened much activity in the other 
churches, called together a good congregation, and created a new religious agency 
in our city without damaging any other. It has done not a little to cultivate frater- 
nal and banish sectional prejudice. It is an ornament to our city, and constantly 
attracts to our midst a desirable class of people, and those who were instrumental in 
accomplishing it deserve and have the respect and gratitude of all good citizens. 

Its cost was only a little more than ten thousand dollars, much less than it 
could be built for now. . 

The regular Sunday services are at 11 A.M. and 8 P.M., with Sunday-school at 
3:30 P.M. A new pastor has been installed over this church since this book has 
been in preparation. 

OTHER METHODIST CHUKCHBS. 

Besides those already mentioned there are: 

The German M. E. Church; Rev. Henry Dietz, Pastor; a very flourishing 
church organization. 

The Mexican M. E. Church, South; located on the corner of "West Commerce 
and San Saba Streets; Rev. C. A. Rodriguez, Pastor. This church does a good 
work among our Spanish speaking citizens. 

Tenth Street M. E. Church, South; located on Tenth Street between Austin 
Street and Avenue D. This is now practically a mission chapel. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Situated on corner of Travis and Jefferson Streets, southeast corner of Travis 
Park, opposite Synagogue Beth El, and near the two horse car lines. The parson- 
age adjoins the church property, and is known as No. 16 Jefferson Street. The 
location selected is peculiarly appropriate, being light and airy, and at the same 
time central, and fronting on the large square occupied by Travis Park, which also 
has been selected by the Episcopalians for their bf.autiful Cathedral, the Southern 
Methodists for tlieir new church edifice, and the Jews for their Synagogue. 

The exact time of the organization of the Baptist Church in San Antonio is not 
known. The nearest correct data we have been able to obtain is that somewhere 
about 1859 or 1860, the Rev. John Thurman rented a room on Soledad Street and 
for a year or more conducted divine services. Whether this church was organized 
here before the room was rented or whether its organiz.ition was the outgrowth of 
these services is not certainly known. Because of family afflictions and other ills a 
pioneer of such a faith was liable to meet with in this city in those daj^s, the Rev. 
Mr. Thurman abandoned the work and took his departure. Those who had been 
members of the congregation, becoming discouraged, were soon scattered as sheep 
having no shepherd. No record of what the church accomplished under its first 



46 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



pastor was made, or if it was made, it is not now available. As far as we have been 
able to pick up bits of its history after Rev. Mr. TlmrmaQ retired, we learn that 
some of its members join 'd Pedobiptist denominations, and a few continued stead- 
fast in the old Jaitli. jN'othing more was done in the way of reorganization until 
18' 8 or lUGii, wlicn the Rev. J. W. D. Creath, after consultation with some of the 
principal members of the Baptist State Convention, visited this cit}' and went to 
work bravely and untirini^ly to secure lots for tlie location of a church l)uiiding and 
parsonage Possessing himself nerve, push, tenderness of heart, and unflinching 
faith in his mission, and having at his back the support of the Baptist State Conven- 
tion and the San Antonio Association, he rested not in his zeal here and all over 
Texas and in many of the old Slates, and his success soon presented itself in the 
shape of a substantial stone parsoDa?;e, which was completed in 1872. This same 
year the corner stone of the present com modious and solid stone structure on the corner 
£)f Travis and Jefferson Streets was laid. Work on the church building progressed 




BAPTIST CHUECH. 



slowly, as money was scarce, and the building was not completed until 1878. In 
1878, Dr J. Beall, a member of this faith, came to San Antonio, and finding no place 
to worship after his desire, divided his time between his practice and looking after 
the affairs of the church membership, holding, as opportunities offered, praise and 
prayer meetings in private families, and in this succeeded in holding the little 
l)and of the faithful until 1877. In this year the Executive Board of the Texas 
Baptist State Convention resolved to send to the church in San Antonio tlie proper 
man for unwavering and and courageous work. The choice, without a dissenting 
voice, was laid upon tlie Rev. W. 11. Dodson, D.D., tlie present earnest and 
untiring pastor of this church. The outlook for him on his arrival was not the 
brightest nor the most hopeful; the church building was in an unfinished condition 
and with a debt of five thousand dollars hanging over it and with no funds in the 
treasury. Gloomy and uninviting as the field was, Rev. Dr. Dodson was neither 
dismayed or sorrowful. His watchword was, " By the help of God these things 
must change," and they did. 



THE ALAMO CITY OrrDK. 4"^ 

The first service conducted by Rev. Dr. Dodsoa was held ia the basement of 
the present building, on the first Sabbath in March, 1877, sixteen persons being 
in attendance, eight of whom comprised the church raembersliip. The amount of 
labor on the part of pastor and peoph; between this service and the year 1879, when 
the ciiurch declared itself self-sustaining, is enormous. Truly, it was a handful of 
workers, but they knew no such word as fail. Especial mention should be made 
of Rev. Dr. Dodson's consecration to the work in these uncertain days. His 
labors have been arduous, but they have been crowned with abundant success. 
Besides stimulating the liberality of the church members and the friends of the 
church in San Antonio, his appeals were sent all over Texas. Not content with 
tills, he visited the great business centres of the old States, and laid_ before some of 
their rich and generous men his mission, and returned to this city witli ample 
returns for his work. Since this church declared itself self-sustaining its meinber- 
ship has increased, its intiuence is aggressive and progressive, and its spirituality Is 
productive of brotherly love, watchfulness, and peace. To-day its membership is 
one hundred and sixty-five, and its congregations are intelligent and growing. The 
Sabbath-school is also robust and moVing forward, Mr. E. C. Everett being the 
superintendent. The church building aud parsonage, together with the lots on 
which they stand, are worth from twelve thousand to foiuteen thousand dollars, 
with an insurance of ten thousand dollars. The present happy condition of affairs 
at the church includes besides those above mentioned, a fair balance in the treasury 
and no debts, a harmonious membership, and a faithful and energetic band of 
workers. The church has also purchased land and built a mission church, which it 
aids in its work. Certainly Rev. Dr. Dodson has abundant cause to thank 
Almighty God for the grand results of his pastorate. 

The hours of religious exercises are, for Sundays: Sunday-school at 9:30 A.M.; 
Preaching, 11 A.M. and 8 P.M. Mondays: Young men's Prayer Meetings at 8 
P.M. Wednesdays: Prayer Meetinsr at 8 P.M. 

Attached to this church is the Wcmien's Missionary Society, which does a gen- 
eral missionary work, both home and foreign. This society meets Tuesdays at 5 
P.M., and is steadily increasing in membership, and is a power for good. 

THE BAPTIST MISSION CHAPEL. 

This is one of the praiseworthy results of the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. W. H. 
Dodson. It was through his efforts that a lot was purchased on the corner of West 
Third and North Third Streets, in a locality rich in material for mission work, and a 
pretty little frame chapel erected, and the Rev. Jacob De Korman placed in charge. 
The services are conducted at times in Spanish, and at times in German, in order to 
meet the wants of those who attend, them. A good work is being done, and its 
prosperity is assured. 

ST. John's German lxjtheran church. 

This is one of the artistic little rock churches of San Antonio, and is situated 
on Nueva Street, near the double iron bridge over the river, and between Presa and 
Alamo Streets, being handy to the San Pedro Park line of street cars, and centrally 
located. The Rev. J. A. Wieder is the Pastor, and the regular Sunday services are 
at 10 A.M. and 8 P.M , with Sunday-school at 9 A.M. 

the evangelical association 

Originated A. D. 1880, in the state of Pennsylvania. Its founder, under God, was 
Bev. Jacob Albright. Its work extends through the Northern, Eastern, and Western 
States in the Union tf> the Pacific coast, through Ontario in Canada, Germany, 
Switzerland, and into Japan. Recently it commenced work in Texas by stationing 
a missionary at San Antonio and one at Galveston. It has twenty-two (.onferences 
which hold annual sessions. A General Conference for the entire chuich is held 
every four years. Statistics of 1881 show 113,813 members, 1,913 travelling and 
Gil "local preachers. The Bishops are : Rev. J. J. Esher, of Chicago, Illinois; 
R. Dubs, D.D., of Cleveland, Ohio ; and Rev. Thomas Bowman, of Allentown. 
Peiinsvlvania. At Cleveland, Ohio, it has a very flourishing publishing house. 
JJer dhristlicke Botschafltr, the oldest, largest, and widest circulated Gerrnan reli- 
gious newspaper in America, is the German Weekly ; and The Evangelical Mes- 



48 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



senger, the English weekly organ of the church. Besides it publishes two monthlies, 
viz., Dass Emngelische Magazine, and The Living Epistle, the former in the Ger- 
man, the latter in the English language, also German and English Sunday-school 
Literature. In Germany it has another publishing establishment where a number 
of periodicals, etc., are issued. It has five institutions of learning : the i!^orth 
Western College at Naperville, Illinois ; the Union Biblical Institute at the same 
place ; the Union Seminary at Berlin, Pennsylvania ; the Lebanon Valley Semi- 
nary at Reading. Pennsylvania, and a Theological Seminary in Germany. At 
Flat Rock. Ohio, it has an Orphan Asylum, where parentless children are educated 
and tenderly cared for. As a church the Evangelical Association claims to be. and 
is what its name indicates, viz.. Evangelical according It) the Bible standard, both in 
doctrine and in practice, and strives to possess not merely the form of godliness, 
but also its poioer and substance. It is also well organized and governed, is noted 
for agressiveness in work, and expends annually large sums of money in missionary 
effort and numerous benevolent purposes. 

The San Antonio Missionary Station was established in May, 1880, by the Rev. 
D. Kreli. Pastor's residence, No. 325 Lavacca Street. The present church is located 
on Tenth Street, in the third ward, near the Immigrants' Home and the Avenue C 
horse car stables. The Avenue C horse car line passes by the church. Sunday 
services are : Sunday-school at two P.M. Preaching at three P.M. 

THE SYNAGOGUE BETH EL 

Is a commodious and well arranged stone structure, two stories in height, the lower 
floor being used for school purposes, and the second floor being the Synagogue 
proper, having ample accommodations for a large congregation, with music loft con- 




JEWISH SYNAGOGUE. 



taining a very fine pipe organ. Every appointment about the building is complete, 
and it is one of the best arranged liou'^es of worship in this city. The location is 
especially favorable, being on the corner of Travis and Jefferson Streets, fronting 
Travis Park, and near both street car lines. Fronting on the same square is the 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



49 



Episcopal Cathedral, the Baptist Church, and the site of the new Methodist Church. 
The congregation of the Synagogue numbers seventy-five members, and their 
property is worth about eighteen thousand dollars. The services are conducted 
mainly in English, and the mode of service is what is known as the reformed mode, 
being liberal and progressive in its tendencies. The choir is pronounced by musical 
critics to be the best in San Antonio, which is iiigh praise for a city like this, where 
so much musical talent is found. The Sabbath-school is large and very prosperous, 
and connected with the congregation are several benevolent societies. The regular 
hours of services are: in the winter, on Fridays, at 7:30 P. M, and Saturdays ai 10 
A.M. In summer the hours are: Friday«, at 8 P.M., and Saturdays at 9 A.M. The 
Rev. Dr. Isidore Lewinthal is the liabbi, and has been over this congregation for 
three years. 

THE .JEWS IN SAN ANTONIO. 

The date of the arrival of the first Jews in San Antonio is not known, but it 
must have been within a few years after the fall of the Alamo, when the city was 
regularly opened to iiTimigrants from all nations. Up to the close of the late war 
their only organization, that we can learn of, was a benevolent society, but in 1873 
the present Congregation of Beth El was organized, and the next year the present 
Synagogue was begun, and was completed and dedicated in the following year. 

The Jews in San Antonio form the backbone of our commercial people. They 
are foremost among the most progressive and public spirited citizens, and to their 
foresight, public spirit, and business energy, San Antonio is largely indebted for its 
commercial prominence. 

COLOKED CHURCnES. 

Our colored citizens attend all of the churches already mentioned, but they also 




A. M. E. CHUBCH. 



have distinctive cnurca organizations and good houses of worship, to which the 
white citizens are almost continually invited to contribute funds. Among the prin- 
cipal of these are: 



50 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

St. Paul's M. E. Church, located on South Centre Street, betweet Chestnut and 
Walnut Streets. 

African M. E. Church, located on the corner of Zavalla and North Concho 
Streets. 

Macedonia Baptist Church, located on Live Oak Street, between Starr and Daw- 
son Streets. 

Mount Zion Baptist Church, on the west side of Santos Street, between Labor 
and Chestnut Streets. 

The attendance of these churches is large, and the proceedings are frequently 
animated. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



51 



CHAPTER III. 

MILITARY. 
FROM the coming of the early Spanish settlers who closely fo]|«^f ^^/;.^^ J;;;°,' 

ciscan Fathers, San Antonio has conttnued to ^*-^ '-^S'^-^^l^.J -'Ww hi finSn";. S 

noint of the first importance. Indeed, trndition, substantiated by t^^*^ ^f "^'^=.('^ 
m nv arrow heads and savage implements in and about the city, intorms u lu i the 
avaJe predecessors of the white men regarded its possession as the ^P/cia /r.ze of 
beh- valor. The historical sketch which precedes this ^^ticle shows how cos^^^^ 
nd persistently it was contested for up to the t meof Texas being adnottted into 

ihe Union, and it only remains now to show the importance the U. S. Govern 

ment place's on it as a military point to-day, 

MILITARY HEADQUARTERS, 

At the close of the Mexican war, San Antonio became the Military Headquar- 
ters of Ihe Department of Texas, which position it held until the passa^^e of the 




^^§j|^^ 



MILITARY HEADQU.vra'ERS.-EXTERIOR. 

J- * „ r,^ccir.r, ^r>on iffpr the fall of the Southern Confederacy the Mill- 

Sr'vTerdqua eTorthisTepaftnTenrwas again established here and still ren,ains 
soTocaLd TlVe US Government own^ lar^e reservations in the city, on which 
so locatea ' "•; u c* ,,,,:, .Kncrs needed for the accommodation of the officers and 
SS'lJiVirnr pn.pl,"';! "o'add .0 tbe number of these buUdings so as to 
accommodate a larger number of troops. 



52 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



The permanent location of the military headquarters in this citv was the favored 
project of a number of ihe leading ciiizens for several years before it was an accom- 
plished fact. The Arsenal tract, on South Flores Street, was accepted by the gov- 
ernment before the late war, but that was deemed unsuitable for tlie military head- 
quarters and the department quartermaster's depot. The petitions and correspond- 
ence on thi.^ ^uiiject between citizens am! military and civil officials and the lieads 
of departments at Washington would fdl volumes; but the delays were long unci 
vexatious. Some six or more donations of land were made before the present 
site was accepted by the general government, and even then there were vexatious 
delays before the tlTle was piouounced satisfactory and the land accepted. So that 
it was not until 187G that woric was begun on what was then known as the U. S. 
Quartermaster's Depot. 

The site sele<-fed is a fine tract of land, situated on the line of hills uorihe.a'^t 
from the o a c.ty, and disrant from tlie M liu Plaza about two and a half miles. Tli • 
tract includes ninety-two and seventy-eighth hundredth acres near the souihcru 




MILITARY HEADQUAKTERS.— INTERIOR. 



boundary of which are the present Quartermaster's and Headquarters buildings. 
Tlie elevation of the tract at this point is about one hundred and three feet alcove 
th J San Antonio River at its nearest point, and about a hundred and tifty feet above 
the I\Iain Plaza, which is tlie centre of tlie town tract or city proper. While sufH- 
cienily removed from the business centre, J'ef it is also closely connected with ( very 
pnrtiun of the city by the street car line and by telephone; a branch from the Galvest"U, 
Harrisburg, and'San Antonio Railroad is built from the main line of the road to tlie 
Quartermaster's Depot, enabling all government freight to be loaded and unloaded 
directly at the headquarters. This locati n is also high and very healthy, with a 

food breeze blowing during the entire year. The tract was donated by the City of 
an Antonio, and the State of Texas has specially relinquished all rights over it to 
the general government. 



THE ALAMO CITT GUIDE. 



63 



The Quartermaster's Depot and Headquarters buildings cover four sides of a 
square of six hundred and twenty-four foet, outside measurement, and are con- 
rtructed of grey limestone from the quarries near the head of the San Antonio River. 
The walls are very thick, witli rock foundations, and the whole work is of tlie most 
massive character. The south front is two stories in height, the second story being 
devoted to the offices of the di^partment officers and their clerks. There are twenty- 
four office rooms, generally twenty by tvventy feet in the clear, high between joinis, 
and well ventilated. These open on a verandah and arcade on the north, ten feet 
wide, and extending the entire length of the south front. 

There arc three entrances to the enclosure, the main entrance being an archway 
in the centre of the south front, also a gateway on the east side near the northern 
line of buildings, which form the enclosure, and another directly opposite on tlic 
west side of the enclosure. 

The first stories are devoted to government store rooms, the department printing 
office, other offices, and the numerous v^orkshops. In all there are thirty-eight store- 








MILITARY HEADQUARTERS.-COMMANDING GENERAL'S RESIDENCE. 



rooms and offices on the lower floor, and two cellar-rooms, all these offices and rooms 
opening only on the enclosure. 

The en( lo.sed space, which is nearly seven and a half acres in size, is tastefully 
laid out in beautiful grass plats and gravelled driveways and cement -walks. There 
are two small basins or ponds fed by pretty little fountains, numerous beautiful 
trees are planted at intervals, and in the centre is the look out tower, which also gives 
force to I he water supply of the depot, and supplies the National Cemetery. 

The lookout tower is in the centre of the enclosure; it is constructed of grey 
limestone, the same as is used in the main buildings, and is fifteen feet square at the 
base and ninety feet high to the roof ; on the top of which is placed a lantern which 
at night lights up the entire enclosure and makes the three entrances and every 
store-room and office doorway plainly visible to the watchman from his room near 



54 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



the top of the tower, sixty-four feet from the ground and about two hundred and 
fourteen feet above the f^entre of the city. 

The water supply of the Quartermaster's Depot and Military Headquarters has 
been amply provided for and includes two underground cisterns of the capacity of 
seventy-seven thousand gallons each, located in each of the rectanrular spaces nearest 
the south front of the enclosure. These are fed by the rain fali.Dg on buildiuirs on 
cast, west, and south fronts of the enclosure Besides this there is an iron tank of 
six thousand four hundred gallons capacity located at the top of the look-out tower 
above the watchman's room, which is fed by a forty-horse power ste'im-engine and 
jmmp ill the government pump-house located to the wc-t of the depot near the 
Aeequia Madre or Alamo Ditch, and distant from the river about fcurteen haiidred 
and thirty feet, both furi.ishing the supply of water and enabling the tank in the 
tower to l)-^ filled in about thirty tive minutes. An indicator on the out^ide of the 
tower shows the height of the water in the tank, and is plainly visible to the engineer 
in charge of the pump-house by day and night. A brick shaft, four feet square, 




MILITARY HEADQUAETEES— OFFICERS' RESIDENCES. 



extends through the centre of the tower from the base to the floor of the watch- 
man's room, tile stairway being on the outside of the shaft to the walls of the tower. 
Through this shaft are extended the pipes leading to and from the tank. Those 
leading from the tank supply the various offices and numerous hydrants conveniently 
placed about the enclosure and the stables. corral, stock yard, and officers' residences. 
A pipe also leads an abundant water supply from the tank to the National Cemetery, 
about three thousand one hutdreJ and seventeen yards south of the Quartermaster's 
Depot. 

Immediately north of the depot enclosure are the corrals, stables, bay-yard, and 
men's quarters, in a secure enclosure six hundred and thirty-eight by seven hundred 
and twenty-eight feet in size. Below these, to the west, is the camp of the troops 
statione(J here, and below these in the valley is the pump-house and government 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 55 

ice faiPtory, which contains very powerful and finely kept machinery, which will 
both pay the trouble of a visit. Here all the ice used at the headquarters and by 
the officers and their families is manufactured. 

THE officers' RESIDENCES. 

On a plain below, and to the west of the Quartermaster's Depot and Military 
Headquarters, yet considerably above the level of the city, the U. S. Government 
has erected fifteen fine two story stone residences, at a cost of above one hundred 
and twenty five thousand dollars, which are used as the dwellings of the department 
officers and their families. These dwellings are handsomely constructed, and are 
an ornament to the locality. Thej' front east and south on the large parade ground, 
and are above the general average of the dwellings of the wealthy portion of our 
citizen-j. Two afternoons in each week are devoted to dress parades of the troops, 
and at such times there are a large number of visitors from the city. In fact, on 
parade days the Military Headquarters are the fashionable drive for San Antonians 
as well as visitors. 

Tlie total amount expended by the U. S. Government on the Quartermaster's 
Depot, Military Headquarters, and officers' residences in this city is above a quarter 
of a million dollars. The pay roll is quite large, and the city is largely benefited 
by the Department Headquarters being located here. New barracks are now being 
built of hard rock and capable of accommodating a large number of troops, it being 
the apparent intention of the military authorities to mass the larger part of the 
troops assigned to the Department of Texas at San Antonio, where they can be 
better cared for and be under better discipline than when scattered through many 
small frontier posts, and at the same time can be rapidly moved by rad at short 
notice to any desired point along the frontier. This change will prove an immense 
saving to the Government in the transportation of supplies alone, and will at the 
same time cause the bulk of the troops to be available for distant service at short 
notice. 

THE SAlSr ANTONIO ARSENAL. 

This institution is well worthy of a visit by strangers, and is one of the numer- 
ous attractions of this city. It is situated on South Flores and Arsenal Streets, and 
extends east to the San Antonio River. It includes a tract of nearly twenty acres 
in extent, the ample grounds being tastefully laid out with beautiful drives and 
walks, and well sliaded with various varieties of trees, while semi-tropical plants 
are planted in convenient localities about the enclosure. The grounds are lighted 
by gas lamps, and are well supplied with water, the mains of our waterworks com- 
pany passing the arsenal on two sides, besides having five large cisterns on the 
grounds fed from the roofs of the various buildings, and capable of holding water 
enough to supply all present and prospective needs. 

A part of this tract was purchased from ex-Governor P. H. Bell, of Texas, and 
part from Dr. G. P. Devine, about the year 185U, containing nearly sixteen acres, and 
an additional four acres was purchased from the heirs of the late Tourtant Beaure- 
gard, in November, 1871. 

The United States Ordnance Department was first established in San Antonio 
during the Mexican War, and the office or arsenal was then located in the buildings 
now occupied by the Milbourne Wagon Agency, on Soledad Street, near the historic 
Veraraendi House. The officers who have commanded the Ordnance Department 
here since its establishment are as follows: 

BEFORE THE CIVIL "WAR. 

Lieutenant-Colonel, then First Lieutenant, John McNutt. Ordnance Department, 
Colonel, then Captain, R. H. K. Whitely, " 

DURING THE CTVIIi WAR. 

Colonel Phil. Stockton, C. S. A. 



/ 



56 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

AFTER THE CIVII.. WAR. , 

Captain J. W. Todd, Ordnance Department. 
J. Arnold, 
I. C. Bradford, 

Clifton Comly, " u 

Frank H. Pbipps, " " 

" John A. Kress, " " now in command. 

The regular employes at present are: Matthew F. Kippax, chief clerk; B. 
Barth, property clerk ; J. Johnson Minter, foreman ; C. M. Wolcken, master 
armgrer; M. J. Keating, master saddler, and Joseph Linnartz, m^ister carpenter- 
Besides these there are an average of from twenty to twenty-two additional men 
consiantly em|)loyed there. 

The Arsenal was tirst designated the San Antonio Ordinance Depot, then as the 
Texas Arsenal, and lastly the San Antonio Arsenal, which name it still bears. Part 
of the present commanding officer's quarters, a beautiful building, was formerly the 
residence of Dr. Devine, from whom part of the Arsenal grounds were purchased, 
but additions and alterations have been made to it at various times since the pur 
chase. The office building was erected in 1860. The magazine was built up to the 
arch by the U. S. Government, and was finished during the civil war by tlae Con- 
federates, under M ijor J. H. Kannpmann, C. S. A. The Armorer's shop was partly 
built by the U. S. Government as far as the top door step, when, the war breaking 
out, the Confederates finished it with soft rock. In 1871, when Captain Comly 
assumed command, the soft rock part was torn do vn, and the shop was finished 
with hard rock, as originally intended. The carpenters' shop and storehouses, Nos. 
1, 2, and 3, frame buildings, were erected in 1873. The stone stable was built in 
1874. Two frame storehouses, now torn down, were also erected by the Confede- 
rates, and were used by them as blaeksmiths' and carpenters' shops. 

The troops in the Department of Texas are all supplied with ordinance stores 
from this Arsenal, and mmor repairs to small arms, equipments, and accoutrements 
are m-:!de there, while some few articles are also manufactured. An upright engine 
in the rear of the Armorer's shop furnishes the motive power for lathes, etc., in all 
the shops, and, should occasion require, no doubt several kinds of ordinance stores 
could be manufactured here as well as at the large arsenals of construction in the 
North. Had it not been for the late war this Arsenal would have been one of the 
finest in the country, as is shown by the original plans, the necessary funds having 
been appropriated and the work commenced, but was abandoned in consequence of 
the war. It would unrloubtedly be a great saving to the U. S. Government if the 
original plans were now carried out and properly extended to answer the present 
and prospective needs of this military department. 

ROSTER OF TROOPS. 

The following is the roster of troops in the Department of Texas, June 1, 1883: 

BRIOADEER-GENERAL C. C. ATTGUR, UNITED STATES ARMY, COMMANDING 

Personal Staff. 

Captain G. B. Russell, Ninth Infantry, Aide-de-Camp. 

First Lieutenant Colon Augur, Second Cavalry, Alde-de-Camp. 

Department Staff. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas M. Vincent, Adjutant General's Department, Adjutant 

General. 
Captain G. B. Russell, Ninth Infantry, Department Inspector. 
Captain J. W. Clous, Twenty-Fourth Infantry, Judge Advocate. 
Major J. G. C. Lee, Quartermaster's Department, Chief Quartermaster 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 57 

Major M. P. Small, Commissary of Subsistence, Chief Commissary of Subsistence 
Depot and Purchasing Commissarj' of Subsistence. 

Surgeon J. R. Smith, Medical Department, Medcial Director. 

Major C. M. Terrell, Pay Department, Chief Paymaster. 

Captain W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers, Chief Engineer Officer. 

Captain John A. Kress, Ordnance Department, Chief Ordnance Officer, and com- 
manding San Antonio Arsenal. 

Second Lieutenant L. E. Sebree, Signal Corps, Signal Officer, and in charge of the 
Texas Divisioq United States Military telegraph lines. 

Quartermastefs Department. 
Captain L. E. Campbell, Depot Quartermaster, San Antonio, Texas. 
Captain C. W. Williams, Fort Brown, Texas. 

Medical Department. 
Surgeon Anthony Heger, Fort Clark. 
Surgeon J. C. G. Happcrsett, Fort Brown. 
Assistant Surgeon W. H. Gardner, Fort Davis. 
Assistant Surgeon P. Middleton, San Antonio. 
Assistant Surgeon F! C. Ainsworth, Fort Mcintosh. 
Assistant Surgeon Valery Havard, San Antonio — temporarily. 
Assistant Surgeon J. A. Finley, Fort McKavett. 
Assistant Surgeon B. D. Taylor, Fort Ringgold. 
Assistant Surgeon J. L. Powell, Fort Stockton. 
Assistant Surgeon W. F. Carter, Fort Ctmcho. 
Assistant Surgeon W. C. Gorgas, Fort Duncan. 
Assistant Surgeon T. J. C. Maddox, Fort Clark. 

Acting Assistant Surgeons. 

A. L. Buffington, Fort Davis. 
]Moses Cooper, Camp Del Rio. 

J. A. Wolf, Camp near Presidio del Norte. ' 

J. R. Harmer, Mayers Spring. 

T. B. Davis, Fort Davis. 

J. S. McLain, Fort Clark. 

W. C. Henderson, Fort Davis. 

S. M. Finley, Head of North Concho. 

B. F. Kingsley, Fort Quitman. 
J. L. Mulford, Fort Davis. 

S. S. Boyer, Pena Colorado. 
William Myers, Mouth of Rio Pecos. 
James Roane, Fort Ringgold. 

Pay Department 
Major I. O. Dewey, Fort Worth. 
Major J. R. Wassou, Galveston. 
Major F. S. Dodge, San Antonio. 
Major D. N. Bash, San Antonio. 
Major J, C. Muhlenberg, Galveston, 



58 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

Post Chaplains. 
B. L. Biildridge, Fort Stockton. 
M. C. Blaine, Fort Clark. 

Posts. 

Fort Browt7. — Colonel C. H. Smith, Nineteenth Infantry, commanding.— I, 

Eighth Cavalry; headquarters, and B, C, D, E, G. K, Nineteenth Infantry. 7 

Fort Clark. — Colonel D. S. Stanley, Twenty-second Infantry, commanding. — 
Headquarlers, and A, C, D, E, G, K, and L, Eighth Cavalry ; headquarters, 
and B, C, G, I, and K, Twenty-second Infantry 13 

Fort Concho. — Colonel B. H. Grierson, Tenth Cavalry, commanding. — Head- 
quarters; and D, E, F, and M, Tenth Cavalry; A. B, C, and F, Sixteenth 
Infantry 8 

Fort Davis. — Lieutenant Colonel A. L. Hough, Sixteenth Infantry, com- 
manding — A, C, H, I, and K, Tenth Cavalry; headquarters, and B, C, D, 
E, F, G, and K, First Infantry 12 

Fort Duncan. — Lieutenant Colonel A. J. Dallas, Twenty-second Infantry, 

commanding. — H, Eighth Cavalry; D. and F, Twenty-second Infantry.. . . 3 

Fort McIntosh. — Major S. S. !>umner. Eighth Cavalry, commanding. — F, 

Eighth Cavalry; A, and F, Nineteenth Infantry. ... 3 

Fort McKavett. — Colonel G. Penny packer, Sixteenth Infantry, commanding. 

— Headquarters, and D, E, G, H, I, and K, Sixteenth Infantry 6 

Fort Ringgold. — Major R. H. Offley, Nineteenth Infantry, commanding. — 
B, Eighth Cavalry: H and I, Nineteenth Infantry 3 

San Antonio. — Captain J. B. Irvine, Twenty-second Infantry, commanding. 

— A, E, and H. Twenty-second Infantry , 3 

Fort Stockton. — Major C. B. MeLellan, Tenth Cavalry, commanding. — B, G, 
and L, Tenth Cavalry; A, and I, First Infantry 5 

Total 62 

Sub-Posts. 

Santa Maria. — Detachment troop I, Eighth Cavalry }- of Fort Brown. 

Camp del Rio. — First Lieutenant S. W. Fountain, Eighth 
Cavalry, commanding. — Troop D, Eighth Cavalry 

Mayers Springs. — Captain L. T. Morris, Eighth Cavalry, com- 
manding — Troop L, Eiahth Cavalry, and Indian scouts . . . 

Mouth of Pecos. — Detachment Twenty-second Infantry 

Grierson s Springs. — Captain J. M. Kelly, Tenth Cavalry, ^ 
commanding. — Troop E, Tenth Cavalry 

Head op North Concho. — Captain A. S. B. Keyes, Tenth 
Cavalry commanding. — Troop D, Tenth Cavalry 

Camp Ch.arlotte. — First Lieutenant G. H. Palmer. Sixteenth 
Infantry, commanding. — Company F, Sixteenth Infantry... 

Pena Colorado. — Captain C. D. Viele, Tenth Cavalry, com- ' 
manding. — Troop C, Tenth Cavalry 

Camp near Presidio del Norte. — Second Lieutenant J. S. 
Jouett, Tenth Cavalry, commanding. — Troop I, Tenth 
Cavalry 

Fort Quitman — Captain Nicholas Nolan, Tenth Cavalry, com- 
manding. — Troop A, Tenth Cavalry 

Catvtp seak Edtnrtirg.— Detachment Nineteenth Infantry .... '}- of Fort Ringgold. 



of Fort Clark. 



- of Fort Concho. 



)■ of Fort Davis. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 59 



CHAPTER IV. 

SAJSr ANTONIO AS A TRADE CENTRE. 

Wrrn a histcrt^ so rich in valorous deeds, and with so many historic landmarks 
claiming attention, it is not to be wondered at that the business, history, and present 
and prospective advantages should be in a measure overshadowed and forgotten, 
save by those who visit Sun Antonio to seek business. The general traveller over- 
looks the practical under the poetic halo of the rich historic past, yet the fact 
remains that many of the Jioroes of the past were first attracted here by the superior 
business advantages offered, and only became noted in the local history through 
their determined resistance of those who sought to forcibly deprive them of those 
advantages. 

From the earliest times San Antonio has been a natural trade centre. At first 
limited to being an Indian trading post, then a village community, then the capital 
of the Province of Texas undtr Spanish rule, on the old trade road between the 
United States and Mexico, and thus progressing until now it stands the junction 
commercial centre of the Southern Trans-Continental line and the great international 
railway systems of the United States and Mexico, also being at the same time the 
natural market for Western Texas, and the leading southern wool and hide market. 
It is also makino steady advances in other lines, and will soon rank high among the 
manufacturing centres of the South. 

BTTSINESS OKGANrZATIONS. 

It has already been shown that San Antonio was from the earliest days a natural 
trade centre for a large range of country. This advantage has always been held 
here, and has been steadily extended with each new accession to its transportation 
facilities. Indeed, San Antonio always has been, is, and will continue to be a busi 
ness point. As the railroads open up new territory, it will be made tributary to this 
city. The merchants of San Antonio are examples of business energy and thrift, 
and are steadily making new business connections as their facilities for improve- 
ment are developed. The business houses are of a sub.stantial cliaracter, ample in 
size, and with heavy and well selected stocks. The volume of business done is shown 
more fully under the appropriate heads in this book. 

SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF TRADE. 

This institution was incorporated November 14, 1872. For a time it was very 
active in securing proposals for the building of various railroads to this city, but 
latterly, although still holding its charter, it has yielded to a new institution, 

THE SAN ANTONIO MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE, 

which was chartered March 30, 1881, and which is of more practical benefit to the 
business interests of the city. The Merchants' Exchange has leased the two-story 
stone building. No. 245 West Commerce Street, formerly occupied by the San 
Antonio National Bank. The lower floor is devoted to the blackboards containing 
the telegraphic quotations, while the second floor contains the private rooms of the 
Exchange. During the wool seasons, spring and fall, wool auctions are held in the 
Exchange, and form an important and attractive feature. Auction sales of cotton, 
hides, skins, and flour, have also been held there, and the rules will admit of further 
exten.sion of these auction sales. Strangers are admitted to the Exchange on being 
introduoed by a member, and all visitors to the city wishing information regarding 
the business growth of San Antonio and Western Texas should call there soon 
after their arrival. The Texas Cotton and Grain Exchange a'.so has joint use of 
the lower floor of the Exchange building. 

THE BANKING FACILITIES 

of San Antonio are unexcelled by any city in Western Texas, and include a 



GO THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

National Bank and three large private banks. The fact that there has never been 
a failure of any of the bankers in this ciiy is proof of the conservative principles 
which have always governed San Antonio banker.^. 

The .sound financial standinuj of the merchaots of Ban Antonio led the wool- 
prowers, cattle men, and farmers of tlie tributary countrj^ to deposit their surplus 
funds on call with tlie merchants through whom they dealt, and this |)ractice pre- 
vails to a large extent to the present lime. Before the late war tliere was but one banker 
in the city, Mr. J. C. French, and during the war there was no regular liankmg house 
here. At the close of the war, however, there w^as a considerable addition to the 
population in noitiiern men, who were attracted here by tlie extraordinary facilities 
offered for acquiring wealth, and this class demanded regular banking facilities such 
as they had bicn accustomed to in their old homes. 

This demand resulted in the establishment of a National Bank and several 

firivate banks. The laws of Texas are liberal on this subject, while, at the same 
ime, the interests of depositors are properly protected. Thus today (July 1, 1832) 
we have the San Antonio National Bank and the private banks of Messrs. Lockwood 
& Kampmann. F. Groos & Co., and John Twohig. All of these are doing well and 
are steadily extending their business. Their deposits to day are not less than two mill- 
ions five hundred thousand dollars. The rule of requiring ample collateral security as 
the basis of every loan is strictly enforced. 

LOANING AND INVESTMENT AGENCY. 

The establishment of this agency by Mr. W J Ballantyne Patterson, who came 
here from the old country for this especial object, is encouraging evidence of the 
increasing confidence with which Texas is being regarded by capitalists as a field 
for investment. He represents important Mortgageand Investment Companies of 
Great Britain, which possess capital practically unlimited, for the purpose of effect- 
ing mortgage loans on town and co*uutry projierties, as well as dealing in r^al estate 
and general financial undertaliings for fore'gn account. Orlier fe^xtures of this 
agency are detailed in the advertisement on another page. Office over Lockwood & 
Kampmanu's Bank, West Commerce Street. 

OTHER TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. 

Among the other trade organizations we name the following: 
Bexar Building and Loan Association. 
San Antonio Buildmg and L'>an As.sociation. 
Merchants and Mechanics' Building and Loan Association. 
San Antonio Board of Underwriters. 

The Building and Loan Associations are in a ver\- thriving condition, and are 
largely palrunized. Their stock is always in active demand. 

THE SAN ANTONIO "WOOL MARKET 

is the principal wool market in the South, and invariably leads in prices. The 
season opens early, and is about equal in time with the Saa Francisco market. Here 
the ranchmen also come for their supplies, and many personally superintend the 
sale of their clips. There are two regular wool sea.sons here — the spring and the 
fall. The spring season opens from the loth to the 25th of April, and usually 
lasts about two months. Tue fall season opens from the 20th to the 30th of Septem- 
ber and lasts about two months and a half. During these wool seasons the city is 
visited not only by the ranchmen, but also by representatives of northern manu 
facturers and wool speculators. Besides these, there are a number of local buyers 
and wool commission firms. It must be remembered that it is of comparativc-y 
recent date tbat Texas wools have received favorable notice from the northern 
manufacturers. Some six years ago. Colonel T. H. Zanderson, one of the largest. 
if not the largest resident wool buyer, was attracted here, and immediately began 
to build up tbe local wool market by inducing northern manufacturers to give the 
Texas wools a more thorough trial than they had formerly done, and at the same 
time inducing the Texas growers to grade up their flocks and take more care in the 
preparation of their fleeces for this market. Recently large numbers of Califoinia 
wool growers have brought tl:eir tine-bred flocks tc Texas, and there has also been 
a great improvement in the native sheep through the importation of blooded stock 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 61 

from the best northern breeders; so that as fine wool is now grown in Western 
Texas and is sold in the San Antonio market as can be found in any seclion of 
America; the only difference being in the amount of care bestowed on the wool at 
shearing-time and in its preparation for market, and even in these particulars there 
is constant improvement being made. 

Western Texas is a natural home for sheep. Pasturage is abundant, with sum- 
mer and winter grasses on the prairies, so that it is rarely necessary to gather 
fodder for the flocks or feed grain to them. Of course, the best flockmasters take 
extra care of their sheep, but they can exist on the open prairies throughout the 
entire year without extra care, and with only a Mexican shepherd to each flock of 
about twelve hundred sheep. Such a thing as barns or sheds for them is unknown. 
The winters in Western Texas are generally open and spring-like, and snow and 
ice are rarely seen. The cold weather is caused by strong north winds (northers) 
which come from the northern limits of Minnesota, and from how much further 
north i§ not known. A norther is invariably preceded by higher temperature^ and 
a falling barometer, about three days of this kind of notice being usually given. 
So thatthe careful ranchman who has a good barometer and consults it daily, need 
never be surprised by extremes of cold weather, and can drive his flocks to protected 
localities on the first ind'c ition of the approach of a norther. 

The San Antonio wool mnrket is a growth. In 1873 the total receipts amounted 
to only 677, o03 pounds, which was a gain ot 351,088 pounds over tlie receipts of 
1871. In 187!) the shipments by rail alone amounted to 3,214,315 pounds. In 1880 
the shipments by rail, with a considerable loss in weight from the scouring of a large 
amount of wool, amounted to 3,005,223 pounds. In 1881 the shipments by rail, with 
still more wool scoured here, amounted to 5,053,323 pounds. This year (1882) the 
estimate of the amount of wool that will be shipped from here is about nine or ten 
million pounds, and the prospects for yearly gains are excellent. 

Tlie facilities for handling wool here are unequalled by any other point in Texas 
or in the entire South. Our railroads pierce the wool growing sections and afford a 
ready means for bringing wool fo this market, while in this city are large warehouses 
devoted exclusively to wool during the spring and fall seasons, a large number of 
local and foreign buyers, large commission houses, such as Messrs. Oothout & 
Nash, Military Plaza, all the advantages of a large city, with much less expense, a 
wool cleaning and scouring mill, further mention of which is made under the 
head of manufactures along the river, the Merchants' Exchange, where special facili- 
ties are offered the wool growers and dealers to meet and exchange views with the 
latest American and foreign market reports before them, and other advantages which 
are more fully shown at other places in this book. 

COTTON. 

The grade of cotton raised in Western Texas, particularly that section which is 
tributary to San Antonio as a market, is generally above middling, while the extra 
length of staple causes it to be quoted about a quarter of a cent per pound above 
upland cotton of the same grade. Within the past two years more attention has been 
paid to cotton in this section of the country, and there has also been a general reform 
in the San Antonio cotton market. Formerly cotton was bought here at a fixed 
price per pound, with no regard to grade, but now, with regular cotton buyers and 
factors, the market is conducted more on sound business principles. The establish- 
ment of the San Antonio Merchants' Exchange has had a very beneficial effect on 
the local cotton market. 

Formerly the principal buyers in this market were Mexican manufacturers, who 
mix the Texas cotton with the Mexican staple to produce their best goods. The 
price of cotton in Mexico is far above the New York price.^, and although the impoit 
duties are very high, the Texas cotton can be sold there at a good profit, especially 
so now that the international railway systems offer cheaper and better transportation 
facilities than have heretofore existed. The Mexican demand is, however, very 
uncertain, and will not do to rely on for a large amount of cotton. Again, while 
cotton is cash in every other market in the world, the Mexican orders are on time, 
hence it is hardly likeiy that any other market will compete activelj'' for this trade. 

For years it'has been very popular here to talk of erecting cotton mills along the 
San Antonio River, but althougli the natural advantage3 are all that could be asked 



63 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

for, and land and the staple are cheaper here than in more eastern or northern locali- 
ties, Libor also beins^ abundant and cheap, yet as yet the manufactories are all on 
paper There is no doubt that cotton mills, if rightly managed, would pay very 
large dividends, but no one with sufficient capital and force has taken hold of the 
matter. 

As to the size of the Western Texas crop it is difficult to state correctly. The best 
figures here are the shipnii'nts by rail, and they show nothing of the ]\Iexican move- 
menr, and only give what is shipped from this city alone, while every railroad town 
ships largely. The shipments by rail in 1879 were 2,279 bales; in 1880 the shipments 
were B,U(iO bales; in 1881 the shipments were 7,912 bales, although there was a 
marked falling off in the crop. This shows the gain which is being made in the San 
Antonio cotton market, and that a much larger territory is being made tributary to 
it. The shipments this year (1882) promise a much greater gain than ever before, 
and the time is not far distant when San Antonio will be regarded as an important 
interior cotton market. 

THE SAN ANTONIO HIDE MAKK'ET. 

San Antonio is the largest market in Texas for hides. Every hide, skin, and 
pelt received here is sold in this market, or has been bought for local dealers and 
shipped here to be reshipped on tanners' or northern dealers' orders. As to the 
permanence of this business there can be no doubt, as the dealers here have branch 
houses or agents in every frontier market, and are backed by ample capital to 
continue their business and meet any prospective competition from other points. 
The class of hides received here is mainly the best heavy average, shade dried, 
long stretched, flint Mexican, and frontier hides. These are sought by tanners, 
and always command the best prices. The proportion of low grade stock in 
this market is very small, and wet salted hides are seldom met here. The recent 
boom in Texas live stock, where values have advanced nearly a hundred per cent , 
and in many instances have exceeded these figure*, has caused such an increase in 
speculation in cattle on hoof, that the receipts of hides have fallen off, but this is 
only temporary, as values must soon become fixed, and then with the increased 
number of cattle in this section of the country hides will again become plentiful, 
and San Antonio will do an increased business in them. 

A great lack here is the absence of large tanneries ; such as we have are small 
affairs, but they are very profitable to their proprietors and turn out very superior 
leather, but not in sufficient quantities to supply the home demand. Large invest- 
ors here are attracted to other speculations and have hitherto neglected the tanning 
interests. Perhaps one cause of this is the lack of a local supply of tan bark ; but 
the mesquite, which grows very abundantly here, is very rich in tannic acid, though 
thus far it has not yet been utilized to any considerable extent. If tanning prepa- 
rations are increased in number and power, as they now promise to be, the main 
difficulty will be solved, as will also be the case' if the mesquite is utilized to its full 
power. Certainly one would suppose that if small tanneries can thrive here and 
the supply of hides is so large as our figures show, .larger enterprises of this kind 
can do equally well. On one point investors can rest assured, the local demand is 
equal to all the local production of leather that thercvcan be for many years, 

During the first five months of the present year (1882), the shipments of hides 
by rail from this city amounted to over six hundred thousand pound.--:, and the 
stocks in the hands of local dealers were unusually large. For the past three years 
the exports of hides from this city by rail have averaged one million eight, hundred 
thousand pounds, the heaviest shipments being during the fall months, 

SKINS AND PELTS. 

San Antonio also has large receipts of goat, deer, and sheep skins, and the com- 
mon 'I'exas furs, some of the latter being much sought after, especially those of the 
leopard. The goat skins include many choice lots of tlie best Mexican skins, which 
were formerly leceived per long wagon trains, but will in future be received by rail. 
The deer skins are from Western Texas, and the receipts have been very heavy, but 
must continue to grow lessias the march of progress is continued to the west. Furs 
will also decrease in numbers for the same reason, although the decrease may not be 
felt as soon owing to more distant territory being opened to the hunters and made 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 63 

tributary to this market. The small tanners here do a good business in dressing the 
choice pelts that are brought here, as these tind ready purchasers in the large num- 
ber of visitors from other sections of the country. 

SAN ANTONIO AS A LIVE STOCK MARKET. 

San Antonio is the business centre of the stockraising portion of TeScas, Here 
the large shippers of cattle and horses come to get the money accommodations 
■which they need during the shipping season, and here also the ranchmen come for 
their ranch supplies. Formi^rly it was the geographical centre of the stockraising 
district of Texas, but the demands of the agriculturists have crowded the stockmen 
and so bought up and cultivated the old cattle ranges that the stockmen have moved 
further south and west, and have themselves fenced up their extensive ranges into 
immeuse pastures. Then, too, the Indians have been driven into their distant reser- 
vations, and the western prairies are no longer the scene of disastrous raids by 
thieving and murderous savages and Mexican desperadoes. A great cliange for 
the better has come upon this section of the country within a short time, and still 
greater changes are now taking place among tlie stuckmen themselves. 

Formerly good shipping beeves. were sold here for from fifteen to twenty dollars 
per head, but during the past year Mr. A. Cerf, au enterprising French contractor, 
has paid as. high as forty dollars per head for beeves in suitable condition for imme- 
diate slaughtering here, and has shipped the meat in refrigerator cars to northern 
and eastern markets, and so marked has been his success in this enterprise that he 
proposes to erect large abattoirs in this city for the slaughtering of beeves and mut- 
tons for shipment to larger markets. This enterprise will also give rise to others, 
such as glue factories, fertilizer factories, meat canning establishments, etc., besides 
adding very largely to the number of hides and skins for local tanneries and ship- 
ment to other markets. 

The old way was for the stockmen to allow their herds to run wild over the 
prairies, and have a general round up once each year, when the increase would be 
branded and the marketable stock culled out and driven on the trail to Kansas, 
where, after a journey of about three months, and being subject to losses from the 
stampeding of stock, theft, and disease, they were sold. 'J'he expenses of the drive 
were heavy, and included the pay of the drivers, provisions, camp outfits, etc. Already 
the stock trail is being rapidly settled up, and this has cut off many of the old water 
holes and camping grounds, while the pasture fences compel the stock drivers to go 
many miles out of their former direct course to tlie Kansas market. Then, too, the 
stock buyers of the north are now either coming themselves, or are sending agents 
to San Antonio to purchase the stock and ship it north by rail, where it arrives in 
far better condition than when driven over the trail. True, the shipping of live 
stock from this city by rail is but in its infancy, but it has more than doubieil in the 
past six months, and last year it was over double the totals of the previous year, and 
this increase in shipments by rail will continue each year as the trail becomes more 
and more obstructed, and the demands of the San Antonio market become greater. 

With a short line railroad to the Gulf of Mexico there would also be a large 
demand. for Texas beeves and muttons. Already Mr. A. Cerf has shipped muttons 
at a profit from this city by rail to New York, and thence by steamers to France. 
The foreign demand is "for better meat, as well as for cheap meat, so that there will 
be another change inaugurated here and the number of imported thoroughbred bulls 
and bucks will be increased, scrubs will become half-breds in the next generation, 
and then the big pastures will be divided among many breeders, and the profits of 
stock-raising in Texas will be largelj'^ increased. 

The foregoing remarks, while intended for cattle-men and sheep raisers, will 
apply with equal force to the raisers of horses. Our climate is admirably adapted 
to all kinds of live stock. The short and mild winters, with only occasional 
northers, of which ample warning is always given, reduces the liability of loss 
to the minimum, and at the same time does away with the necessity for large barns 
and" extensive sheds and the storage of hay, fodder, and grain for winter feed as is 
necessary in more northern latitudes. 

The demand for Texas ponies has steadily increased during the past few years, 
and is still increasing. They are very hardy, and require less care than northern 
horses. By crossing them with thoroughbreds a very haa-dy animal is produced, 



64 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

especially if raised on the Texas prairies and accustomed to rough it until old enough 
to be broken. 

STOCK SHEEP. 

In our remarljs about muttons we did not include sheep used for wool growing 
purposes exclusively, or, as they are termed in Texas, " stock slieep." The sales of 
these stork sheep form a very considerable item in our general trade, and this busi- 
ness is mainly done by Messrs. Chabot, Moss & Co, who by extended experience in 
this business huve become to be the largest dealers here, and at the same time their 
office on tlie southeast corner of the Main Plaza is the headquarters for the sheep 
men v^ ban in this city. Mr. P. J. Moss, of this firm, was the founder of the Texas 
Wool Growers' Association, and was its first secretary, he holding that office for a 
series of years. The commercial standing of this firm is second to none in San 
Antonio, and their thorough knowledge of the business makes them valuable 
advisers of those contemplating tiie starting of a t^heep ranch in Texas. They always 
have sheep on hand, which they will sell in large or small lots, to suit purchasers. 
Their sales this year will approximate one hundred thousand head. Their terms 
are reasonable, and they are strictly honorable in all their dealings. All parties visit- 
ing Texas with a view of going into the business of wool-growing should first 
call upon Messrs. Chabot. Moss & Co., before making any contracts elsewhere. 

GRAIN. 

San Antonio, as is natural, is becoming a considerable market for grain. The 
local millers are large consumers, and there is also a large local demand from stable- 
men, outside of the demand from points along the lines of^the railroads. Although 
the acreage of grain is being yearly increased in the territory naturally tributary to 
this city, yet last year nearly a thousand carloads of grain was imported by rail, 
and this year the imports will be fully double those of last year. This is due in a 
great measure to the large number of settlers constantly arriving here, and also to 
the demands of the railroad builders Farmers need have no fears of not having a 
home market for all the grain they can raise in Western Texas. The crops are 
easily raised, and are harvested much earlier than in the Northern States. Bc'sides, 
the prices paid for grain in bulk from farmers' wagons on the Plaza frequently 
exceeds those of the Northern retail market of the corresponding date. 

MESQTJITE BEANS. 

The mesquite tree is a species of acacia, and grows wild and in great profusion 
in Western Texas. This tree bears beans in large pods wiiich are very abundant in 
dry seasons, but are not so abundant in wet seasons when the grain crops are the 
heaviest. This bean is eagerly eaten, pods and all, f)y all kinds of live stock, and is 
very nutricious. A ready sale for these beans, which can be gathered by the wagon 
load by children, is found in San Antonio, at from twenty to thirty cents per barrel 
containing about two bushels. For new comers this afEoids an immediate income, 
provided they do not make crops the first year. 

PECANS. 

The pecan crop is a source of considerable income to our city, and is hirger than 
any statistics yet prepared will show. All through Western Texas the banks of the 
numerous water-courses are lined with large groves of pecan trees, the nuts being 
gathered and brought to San Antonio by Mexicans and others, and sold at prices 
ranging from two to eight cents per pound, according to the supply and demand at 
the time of sale. The local consumption of these nuts is very laige, and the candy 
manufacturers and jNIexicans use a large amount of them in their productions, 
besides those used by families here, yet the yearly export of pecans by rail alone, as 
shown by the books of our railroad companies, amount to over seven Imndred 
thousand pounds. The business of collecting these nuts in small quantities, as they 
are brought to this city by the gatherers, and then selling them in car-load lots for 
shipment to other cities, is a very lucrative one, and is steadily on the increase. A 
large pecan grove is good paying property, and if the trees were proper))' cared for 
and young trees set out each year, a few acres in pecan trees would be as good an 
investment as any one could wish. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 65 



The lumber trade of San Antouio is large and is constantly increasing'. The 
supply comes from the lumber mills in the pineries of Texas and Louisiana, with 
some Utile Northern lumber. Our lumberyards are extensive and are well stocked. 
This business yields a large profit, as prices here are quite high, owing to the largely 
increased demand from new railroad towns as well as on account of the local build- 
ing boom now in progress. 

GENERAL BUSINESS PROSPERITY. 

It is impossible, in a work of this character, to mention each line of business in 
detail and follow it out in all of its subdivisions. The most that can be done now is 
to give a mere outline, leaving the visitor to examine into the details for himself. 
We can truthfully say that every line of business in San Antonio is in a very pros- 
perous condition and is making steady advances over the advances of former years. 
Our city is growing rapidly, new towns are springing up as if by magic on every 
side, our railroads are being rapidly extended, and numerous tap roads and branches 
are being projected. Tlie demand for stores and dwellings far exceeds the supply, 
although every mechanic in this city is employed, and many new blocks of business 
houses and numerous dwellings have been erected during the past year, and more 
are now in process of erection. 

This is no mere -'mushroom" devolopment, but is a legitimate u;owth based 
on the rapid settling of the rich agricultural and stock-raising country m ilie district 
naturally and directly tributary to San Antonio. As soon as the fine \\ater-powers 
in this vicinity and our other natural advantagfs are utilized and developed, as 
they must be in the near future, by manufactur..'rs, the advance in ihe material 
advantages of our city will become more marked and a still more rapid growth will 
have to be recorded. 

THE GROCERY TRADE. 

In no branch of business here has there been greater advances than in the 
grocery trade of this city during the past year. With the bu'lding of new railroads 
guods are laid down here from the large markets of the north much cheaper than 
ever before, and the extension of the railroads west and south of this city is rapidly 
developing the tributary country, and developing our trade with that country. The 
further the railroads are extended the more orders are received by our whole.salers, 
and tlie completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad will enable our grocers to lay 
down goods from the Pacific coast, C'lina, and Jiipan at less cost than can be done 
by the New York merchant. Btsides this, the rich mineral districts of Texas, 
Mexico, Arizona, and New .Mexico will be witiiin easy reach, and a large amount of 
trade may be expected from these sources. Our present wholesale trade extends all 
over the wool growing and cattle districts south and west of this cit.v, and far into 
Mexico ; and as we have before stated, its limits and volume are being rapidly 
extended and increased. In another part of this volume will be found the illustra- 
tion of the large grocery house of the estate of the late Honore Greuet, next to the 
Alamo, which is also used as a store-house by this firm. 

DRY GOODS. 

Our dry goods trade is even more extensive than our grocery trade, and the 
profits are proportionately large, considering the immense amount of capital 
invested. Our dealers buy from first hands in the north, with close calculation as 
to trade prospects and the course of the markets, taking every possible advantage 
of declines and cheap freights. They are therefore enabled to sell to dealers in 
tributary towns and to Mexican dealers as cheaply and generally cheaper than the 
large wholesalers in competing markets. Knowing their trade thoroughly and 
possessed of ample capital, they take less risks than would be required of northern 
wholesalers, and at the same time grant long credits (at twelve per cent, interest) 
where prudence directs. The wholesale dry goods trade of this city now includes 
boots, ,«hoes, hats, caps, fancy goods, etc. The fact that all our wholesalers are in 
prosperous circumstances, and that their sales are steadily increasing each year, is 
one to which we direct special attention. One of our largest firms divided over a 



66 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



hundred and fifty thousand dollars profits amoni^ its partners last year, and the 
others did proportionately well for the amount of capital invested. 

OTHER LINES OF TRADE. 

The hardware trade is very large, and includes agricultural implements. 

The furniture and house furnishing business is very active una is being steadily 
increased each year. The advertisement of L. Wolfson & Co. will be found on 
another page. 

The jewellers of San Antonio are headed by the old firm of Bell & Bros., and 
the stocks are extensive and embrace all the latest novelties in this line. 

Patent medicines, drugs, and chemicals form a very important branch of trade 
here. Our wholesalers, Messrs. L. Orynski and F. Kalieyer Son do a large trade 
with Mexico as well as with tributary, cities and towns in Texas. 




L. ORTNSKI'S STORE. 



The wagon business is principally done by the Milburn Wairon Co.. though 
all of the principal wagon manufactories of the country are represented here. The 
sales of wagons for farm use and for freighters are very lieavy, as also are those of 
the better class of vehicles for city use. They are brought here by the carload from 
the manufactories and are set up at the local branches in this citj^ 

The number of local artists here has also created a large demand for artists' 
materials, wbich is admirably supplied by C. II. Mueller, West Commerce Street, 
opposite China Hall. 

The itusiness in house painters' supplies and wall papers is also large and 
steadily increasing. C. H. Mueller above named supplies the trade. 

There is also a lively trade in Mexican curiosities, which is met by Gregory & 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



67 



Co., of China Hall, and Narcisso Leal, near Herd's Hotel. Gregory & Co. also do 
a good business in souvenirs of the Alamo and the old Missions. 

The trade in china and glass ware is also a large one. All the wholesale 

frocers deal in this line with their regular business, but Gregory & Co., of China 
[all, make it a distinctive feature, and do a thriving and rapidly increasing 
business. 

As would be expected, the trade in guns, ammunition, and sportsmens' supplies 
is a very considerable one here. Messrs. Hummel & Son, south side of West 
Commerce Street, near the Main Plaza, do the most of the trade in this line. 

The trade in coffees and teas is monopolized by R. A. Holland, No. 34 West 
Commerce Street and East Houston Street. The business is large ^^nd rapidly 
increasing. These two stores are the only ones of the kind here, and Mr. Holland 
also does a large country jobbing business. 

Real (Stale and land agents are here in large .numbers and are very reliable. 
Parties desiring to have the facts stated in this book verified, or desiring additional 
information on the subject, will do well to correspond with Messrs. Bradley «fe 
Wadsworth, Geo. W. Caldwell, Cayce & Co., Geo. Al. Gordon, J. A. H, Hossack, 




L. WOLFSON & CO.'S STORE. 



or W. J. Ballantyne Patterson, all of whom we cordially endorse as well informed 
and thoroughly reliable business men. 

Mr. Geo. W. Caldwell, besides being a general land agent, is also a notary 
public, and one of the aldermen of this city. His position as the special agent for 
the extensive tracts of land and choice city lots owned by Messrs. Adams & Wicks, 
gives iiim peculiar facilities in his business, and his long residence and extensive 
business connections here make liim a desirable person to be consulted by those 
seekins homes in Western Texas. His office on West Commerce Street, near the 
Main Plazii, is handily located near the banks, and is one of the centres of informa- 
tion regarding land matters. Here will be found numerous maps, not only of city 
lots, but of tracts of rich agricultural and grazing lands all over this section of the 
State, which he has for sa'e on favorable terms. Courteous and obliging to 
all, and possessed of a rich fund of information regarding the history, soil, 
climate, and productions of Western Texas, he combines all the elements of a 



68 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



careful adviser of all new comers. As a prompt and reliable business man his 
name stands among the first of our citizens, and as such he merits and receives the 
confidence of all. Parties coming here with the intention of making this their 
home should call at his office soon after their arrival; and those contemplating 
coming here should address him on this subject. All inquiries by mail will be 
promptly answered, and his advice can be relied on in every instance. This 
tribute to his worth is no mere advertisement, but is written by the author after 
having enjoyed his friendship, as well as having had business dealings with him 
during a series of years, and while also testifying to the high standing and honor- 




r. KALTEYEB & SON'S STORE. 



able dealing of all the others engaged in this business, we take special pleasure in 
thus recommending Mr. Geo. W. Caldwell. 

The leading merchant tailors of San Antonio are Messrs. Pancoast & Son, 
West Commerce Street. Their stock always includes the latest styles and the best 
goods. They are the bon t(m tailors of West Texas, and do a very ]ari;e business. 

Wire Fencing can be found at all of the hardware stores of the city, but 
C. Wilijus, at Cayce & Co.'s grocery store, on East Houston Street, opposite the 
Maverick Hotel, makes a specialty of this business, and it will be well to call on him 
before purchasing elsewhere. 

The following cut shows an article of furniture which is made here to perfection, 
and is .very popular with visitors as well as residents. Mr. Wm. Mittmann, the 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



69 



manufacturer of this chair, is a genius in his way, and does a very large business 
in making these chairs on cM-ders. His place of business is No. 214 West Commerce 
Street, and should be visited by those desiring to learn more on this subject. 




HORNED CHAIR. 



Mr. Mittmann also does a considerable business as an upholsterer as well as manu- 
facturing horned chairs. 

For the benefit of those wishing further information about the trade of this city, 
■we give the following table from the annual business review of 1881, prepared for 



70 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



the San Antonio Daily Express by the author; but we will add that the totals for 
the present year to July 1, far exceed those of the corresponding time last year : 

SALES AND INCREASE DURING 1881 OVER PREVIOUS TEARS. 



Cotton 

Drugs, etc 

Dry Goods, wholesale. 

Dry Goods, retail 

Furniture 

Grain 

Groceries, wholesale . . . 

Groceries, retail 

Hardware 

Hides, Skins, and Furs. 

Jewelry 

Liquor 

Live Stock 

Lumber 

Tobacco and Cigars. . . . 

"Wagons 

Wool 

Miscellaneous 

Total Sales 



Sales. 


Increase and Loss. 


$625,000 


25 percent 


. gain. 


500,000 


100 " 


" 


4,500,000 


50 " 




2,500,000 


5) " 


" 


300,000 


100 '• 


" 


1,250,000 


50 


" 


5,000,000 


50 " 


' ' 


2,500,000 


50 " 


" 


750,000 


50 " 


" 


200.000 


10 " 


loss. 


liO.OOO 


50 " 


gain. 


500,000 


75 " 


" 


2,500,000 


100 •• 


(( 


1,000,000 


125 " 




250,000 


25 " 


" 


200,000 


25 " 




1,300.000 


25 " 


" 


l,00n,000 


75 " 


" 


$25,075,000 





THE ALAMO CITY GUTDE. 71 



CHAPTER V. 

RAILROADS. 

Until the latter part of February, 1877, San Antonio was only connected with 
other cities as well as various points on the frontier and in Mexico, by the lumbering 
stage coach and the "prairie schooner." Even under this primitive means of convey- 
ance the trade of the city was considerable, and when, in Febru;iry, ls7r the GaLes- 
ton, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, otherwise known as the Sunset Road, was 
completed here, there was a property boom which continued for some time, values 
being advanced to a ridiculous figure. The decline wliich naturally followed was 
checked in January, 1881, by the completion to this city of the International and 
Great Northern Railroad, and the immediate extension of both railroads, the Sunset 
West to meet the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the International South to Mexico 
and through the heart of that country. The present prosperity of San Antonio is no 
transitory boom, but a rapid and steady growth based on an actual business increase. 
This is shown by the freight reports of both railroads. In 1878, the leceipts of 
freight by rail amounted to 5,824 carloads, while in 1881 the consolidated receipts 
by both railroads amounted to 16,097 carloads of freight. Thus far this year the 
receipts of freight by rail show a steady gain over 1881. The export freiglu by rail 
shows a corresponding gain : thus in 18?1 there were exported by rail 7,972 bales of 
cotton against 2,279 bales in 1879; 5,053,323 pounds of wool against 3,214,315 pounds 
in 1S7:); 7,696,214 pounds of merchandise against 1,457,478 pounds in 1879; 
37,158,085 pounds of miscellaneous freight again'^t 9,383,620 pounds in 1879; 9,848 
head of horses and mules against 647 head in 1879; 2,048 head of cattle against 842 
head in 18T9; 35,995 head of muttons against 3,818 head in 1879; 6,842,345 pounds 
of lumber against none in 1879 ; 43 carloads of flour agamst none in 1879, etc. These 
figures are given to show the impetus given to local trade by the railroads, and 
especially by their Southern and Western extensions, which have caused the build- 
ing of a number of new cities and towns along the lines, and which are directly 
tributary to San Antonio as a market and source of supply. This good work is yet 
in its infancy, and must continue to increase yearly. The totals lor the present year 
will, in many instances, show an increase of over double the figures of last year. 

GALVESTON, HAKRISBURG AND' SAN ANTONTO RAILROAD. 

Every chapter in this book shows the great advances which have been made, 
and the still greater advances which are being made, in the march of progress in 
Western Texas. 

Twenty five years ago savage Indians were so numerous that it was not safe for 
a solitary traveller to go from San Antonio to Fredericksburg, and the savages mur- 
dered a man near the San Pedro Springs in 1857. Western settlements were in 
constant danger from the Indians, and ranches were raided on so frequently by 
these savages that the announcement of an Indian raid, with a number of herders 
killed and large numbers of stock stolen, caused b;U little excitement, except among 
the relatives and friends of the victims. In those days the lumbering stage coach 
was the only public conveyance for travellers in any direction to and from Uiis city, 
while the long trains of Mexican carts aid prairie schooners furnished the only 
mpans of transportation for freight. San Antonio was then a one-story chy, with 
quaint old adobe buildings "huddled" together near the common centre, with 
narrow streets boa'-ting of no sidewalks, and doing its frontier trading in the most 
primitive manner. 

Now look at the change to-day, and if you seek the cause we will point with 
pride to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway, the contribution o< 
a citizen of Massachusetts to the Lone Star State, and a donation to the cause oi 
progress and civilization which has been, and is, and must continue to be, of vital 
importance not only to Western Texas, but also to Mexico, and indeed to the great 
markets of the North, and even to European ports. For, as the connecting link ol 



78 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

the Southern Pacific Railway, and indeed the enterprise which made that trans- 
continental line possible, it cheapens the rates of freight on the valuable products 
of the Pacific coast to the nearest Gulf port, as well as furnishing the nearest coast 
line for the rich mineral fields of Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, and Western 
Tex;\s. 

Practically beginning at Houston where it connects with the Star and Crescent 
Road to New Orleans, the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railway to Galveston, 
and all tUe northern lines centreing at Houston, it extends west through what is now 
one of tli(i richest agricultural belts of country in the State, and which has been 
developed mainly by the building of this road. Many of the thriving cities and 
towns along this line owe their existence solely to the Galveston, Harrisburg and 
San Antonio Railway, and many of the prosperous farms along the line are owned 
by immigrants brought to Texas by the immigration department of this railway 
company. B 'fore this railway was completed the country between Houston and 
San Antonio was sparsely settled, and large herds of wild cattle roamed in unre- 
stricted freedom where now are found the most fertile fields of sugar, cotton, grain, 
and garden truek. The benefit which this enterprise has conferred on Texas is 
beyond computation, and reflects great credit on the head and heart of its distin- 
guished projector. 

At San Antonio, which for about four years was its western terminus, the 
radical changes for the better Avhich it produced are fully shown elsewhere. 
Indeed, there is not a chapter in this book that does not prove the good influence 
exerted here by this railroad. From here the western extensions with the various 
branches take their start, and connection is made with the Huntington railway 
interests of Mexico and the Pacific coast. This western extensi >n is destined to do 
a work for San Antonio and Western Texas which mu^t cause a rapid advance in 
business interests here of permanent importance. Already the advance made here 
has been little short of marvellous, but it must bs much greater when the California 
and Mexican freights, the rich products of the mininsr regions of New Mexico, 
Arizona, and Western Texas are added to them. Besides this, there is a very rich 
and comparatively undeveloped agricultural region lying west of this citj'. as well 
as the immense stock range*, which will contribute very largely to this and other 
markets. A number of new towns have already been laid out along the line of 
this western exlen.sion, and all of them are now in a thriving condition; other new 
tovvns must follow in a short time as the railroad is extended, both on the main 
line and on various branch lines which will be built as fast as men and material can 
be placed on the ground. 

While the Eastern section of this railroad, from Houston to San Antonio, passes 
through a very rich agricultural country, abounding in excellent locations for far- 
mers from other sections of the United States and from Europe, the Western exten- 
sion passes through not only rich agricultural districts, but also stock raising sections 
and rich mineral belts abounding in silver, gold, lead, iron, and other minerals which 
are found in paying leads which will contribute largely to the wealth of Texas in the 
near future. For the tourist this railroad possesses many distinctive charms, some 
of which have been dwelt upon more at length in other portions of this book, and 
others which will have to be seen to be appreciated. Of the latter we mention the 
magnificent scenery of the Devil River countrj' on the Western extension, which 
foreign travellers pronounce more grand than any to be seen in the mountains of 
Europe. Here, too, are many wonderful caves, including the celebrated Painted 
Caves, which might be justly termed the art galleries of the aborigines. There are 
also many beautiful canons in the mountains, whoso rocky sides rise almost perpen- 
dicul;ir for above a thousand feet, the bottoms being well carpeted with rich grass, 
with here and there little groves of beautiful forest trees and a stream of crystal 
water winding its way along its entire length. These and other wonders of nature 
which abound along this railroad must be seen to be appreciated, and once seen will 
be never forgotten. This Western extension also makes several connections with 
the leading lines of railways now being built through Mexico, as well as being the 
best transccntincntal line now built or projected. 

Colonel Pierce has already done a great deal towards settling up Western Texas 
with a desirable class of immigrants both from the Northern States and from Europe. 
The railroad owns large tracts of valuable farming lands, besides the mineral fields 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 73 

and large tracts admirably adapted to stock raising. These efforts to induce immi- 
gration will be continued in the future as in the past, and each year sees new 
accommodations presented. Besides the various agents distributed through the 
other American States, this road is represented by Dr. Wm. G. Kingsbury, wlio has 
his headquarters in London, but who travels over the continent of Europe from 
time to time as necessity may require. Dr. Kingsburj^ is an old Texan, a thoroughly 
educated gentleman, and very enthusiastic in his work. He is also the author of a 
large number of pamphlets relating to Western Texas, besides being a constant cor- 
respondent of the British press. He has been instrumental in inducing a large 
number of hardy Europeans to emigrate to Texas. In order to facilitate the proper 
distribution of immigrants after their arrival in Texas, Colonel Pierce has erected 
Immigrants' Homes at all the principal points along the line of his road, where immi- 
grants are given free lodgings for a limited time after their arrival, and where they 
receive all needed advice as to the selection of homes. A large two-story frame 
building of this character has been erected in this city, on the corner of Tenth and 
Austin Streets, on the line of the street railroad and near the Galveston, Harris- 
burg, and ;San Antonio Railroad depots. A local immigration society also aids 
in caring for those who come here, and besides, there are several intelligence offices 
and numerous land agents here. The land department of this railroad is under the 
personal management of Colonel H. B. Andrews, the Vice-President and General 
Manager of the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway, who takes 
special pride in giving all desired information on this subject. 

The history of the building of this railroad by Colonel Thomas W. Pierce reads 
like a story from a book of fairy tales, being full o? apparently insurmountable 
obstacles and financial ditficulties, all conquered by his indomitable energy, abiding 
faith, and business enterprise. A weaker man would have failed at the very outset 
of the enterprise, but Colonel Pierce is built of firmer stuff; and although hindered 
and obstructed by four years of civil war and the long panic of 1873, after long 
years of toil and trouble, and constant hindrance and annoyance, he now sees the 
great work of his life so far completed that the fruition of his hopes is in view, and 
the rich results are already pouring into his coffers and placing him among the 
wealthy benefactors of this age. The term "public benefactor" will apply to 
him not only as the builder of a mighty iron band across a former wilderness, and 
the founder of many cities in a peculiarly healthy and rich territory, but also as a 
generous patron of very many public and private charities and business enterprises 
in that territory through which his railroad passes. 

One of the surest signs of a good general is his discernment of character in the 
selection of his subordinates. Colonel Pierce possesses this faculty in a marked 
degree, and this has contributed largely to the success which has crowned his 
efforts. We can safely saj^ he has not an indifferent general officer in his employ, 
and, on the contrary, he has some who are rarely equalled, and certainly not excelled 
by any engaged in the railroad interests of America. 

First among these is Colonel Henry B. Andrews, Vice-President and General 
Manager of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad Company — a 
gentleman thoroughly identified with the varied interests of Texas, and a firm 
believer in glorious future which awaits his adopted home. A thorough organizer 
and practical business man, a close student and a brilliant orator, full of energy, 
foremost in all local enterprises for the public good, and deservedly popular with 
all classes of our citizens, his open-handed liberality has made him among the first 
of benevolent benefactors of local charities, and has given him a hold on the affec- 
tions of our people second to none. It was he who first saw the great wealth which 
lies within the grasp of the Galveston, Harrisburg *and San Antonio Railroad, 
through the devc lopment of the rich mineral deposits of the Chinati Mountains, 
and seconded by Colonel Pierce, he sent out several exploring expeditions through the 
Chiuati region, and found the silver and other mineral deposits were greater than 
at first supposed. This mining discovery will eventually lead to his being one of 
the wealthiest citizens of the Lone Star State. As soon as the western extension of 
this railroad reaches the mineral belt, active mining operations will be commenced, 
and with San Antonio as the natural base of supplies, there will be a new impetus 
given to the already large trade of the city. This discovery in the hands of another 
would have resulted in much less gain to San Antonio, but Colonel Andrews is an 



74 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

enthusiastic worker for the future prosperity of this city, and by his personal mag- 
netism, backed by energy and zeal in inducing others to share his belief, he has so 
influenced the course taken by the railroad engineers that there is no doubt of 
success attending his endeavors. In this connection we would state that Colonel 
Andrews is one of the best posted amateur geologists in Western Texas, and visitors 
to this city will find in his oflBce, in the Pancoast Building, on West Commerce 
Street, the best collection of geological specimens from this section of the country 
that is now in existence. 

Colonel Pierce was also peculiarly fortunate in his selection of Maj ir James 
Conveisp, also of Massachusetts, as his General Superintendent and Chief Engineer. 
Major Converse is a civil engineer of marked ability and thoroughly trained in his 
profession. In addition to his professional knowledge he possesses great executive 
ability and untiring energy and zeal in his work. The admirable construction of 
this railroad, and the conquering of natural difficulties along the entire line, are 
monuments of his fitness for the important position which he fills. 

Colonel C. C. Gibbs, the General Freight Agent of this railroad, is another 
admirable officer. Thoroughly acquainted with the country and its people, he caters 
to their ueeds, while at the same time faithfully serving the interests of his employ- 
ers, and is a popular as well as a very efficient official. 

The General Passenger Agent, Mr. T. W. Pierce, Jr., a nephew of Colonel 
Pierce, is another very popular and eflicient official of this railroad, and takes special 
pleasure in answering anj' and all inquiries sent to him regarding his road and the 
countiy through which ii passes. His address is Houston, Texas. 

The local Ticket Agent in this city, Mr. P. B. Freer; the Western Passenger 
Agent, Mr. Charles E. Miner; and the local Freight A^ent, Mr. W. P. Pryor, are all 
courteous, well informed gentlemen, and are very efficient officials. Indeed, we doubt 
if there is an official in the employ of this company who will not compare favorably 
with similar officials on other railroads. 

When we add that all the passenger trains are provided with Westinghouse air 
brakes. Miller platforms and couplers, elegant parlor and sleeping cars, and other 
conveniences for the comfoit and safety of travellers, the road bed being rock bal- 
lasted and very smooth running, and steel rails being used during its entire length, 
our claims for the special merit of this railroad will be seen to be well grounded. 

THE INTERNATIGNAL AND GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD. 

This is the second railroad which has been constructed to San Antonio, reaching 
there in the early part of 1881. This railroad is one of the most important of any in 
Texas, being a part of the great Gould system, and -having numerous feeders, taps, 
and branches throughout the State, besides several northern connections. The name 
International is not a misnomer, since it crosses the State from its northeastern 
boundary through a very rich country to San Antonio, thence to the Rio Grande 
River at Laredo, and thence across the river into Mexico. The building of the Mexi- 
can line is progressing very rapidly, and that country is being rapidly developed 
through its agency. 

The counties through which the main line and branches extend are: Gregg, 
Smith, Rusk, Cherokee, and Anderson, the latter being the county in which is situ- 
ated Palestine, the headquarters of the road, and where' are located their extensive 
machine and car shops. These five counties compose some of the finest lumber 
regions in the world, and also abound in iron ore rich in quality and inexhaustible 
in quantity; besides, they are all good farming cnunties, and are unsurpassed tor all 
fruits indigenous to the South and Southwest. Of the same nature are II ^uston. 
Trinity, Walker, Montgomery, and Harris, along the line from Palestine to Houston. 
From Harris the Columbia Tap goes through Brazoria to the Brazos, opening some 
of the most productive sugar lands in the world, the productive capacity of which 
is incalculdble. From Palestine westward to Hearne, it goes through Leon and 
Robeitson counties, embracing the cslebrated Trinity River bottom lauds, which 
have no superior on this continent. Thence it strikes that vast, rich grain and gen- 
eral agricultural and stock-raising region of country extending to the Rio Grande, 
being rolling prairie all the way, passing through the counties of Robertson, Milam, 
Williamson, Travis (where it crosses the Colorado on a magnificent iron bridge of 
six spans, at Austin, the Texas capital), Hays, Comal, Bexar (pronounced Behor), 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



75 



■where is situated San Antonio, the Alamo City, one of the most historical cities and 
the oldest organized one in the United Slates; Medina, Frio, La Salle, and Webb to 
Laredo, the American terminus, thence into Mexico. 

This company has over five million; acres of the very finest lands in tlie Union, 
which they offer very cheap and on favorable terms; and, also, they lease large 
tracts of good grazing lands for five years, at two cents per acre. Tickets trom any 
part of the world can be bought over this line; and they offer superior inducements 
to immigrants, having an immigrants' home at Palestine, where rooms, cooking 
utensils, fuel, and everything except food, are furnished free of charge to those 
seeking homes, until they are suited and settled down. Any mlormalion solicited 
will be promptly and cheerfully given in regard to their lands and homes, by 
addressing the Immigration Bureau of the International Railroad, at Palestine; and 
all information in reterence to tickets and passenger and immigrant transportation 
will receive a prompt reply if addressed to Mr. B. W. Mci'ullougb. General Agent, 
Marshall, Texas. This road runs two mail and express trains each way daily, with 
first-class coaches and everything that money and enterprise can suggest to insure 
speed and comfort to passengers. Pullman sleepers and drawing-room cars on all 
through trains. AtLongview Junction connection is made with the Texas and 
Pacific for St. Louis, via the Iron Mountain and Southern, and at Minneola with the 
Missouri Pacific for Chicago and points west along the Texas and Pacific line. 
Colonel H. M. Hoxie is the general manager of this road and all its branches; and, 
with General Talmagc, he is master of the entire Gould system, which includes, by 
a recent coup de grace, the Wabash line in addition to the ones enumerated above. 
The officers are: R. S. Hayes, President; T. W. Pearsall, Vice-President, New 
York; H. M. Hoxie, General Manager, St. Louis; D. S. H. Smith, Secretary and 
Treasurer, Palestine, Texas; Jacob S. Wetmore, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, 
New York; B. W. McCullough, General Agent, Marshall, Texas. 

PAPER RAILKOADS. 

There are numerous other railroads which have been projected to this city, for 
some of which charters have been obtained, but they exist only on paper, and 
although some of these will be built in the near future, we confine ourselves at thie 
time to actualities only. 



76 THE ALAMO CITY QUIDE. 



CHAPTER VI. 

SAN ANTONIO AS A HEALTH RESORT. 

The earliest ■writings concerning San Antonio make special mention of the 
healthfulness of the climate. From the earliest settlers of this city to the present 
inhabitants, all have united in praising our health-giving breezes and wonderful 
climate. Healthy, robust men walk the streets of San Antonio to-day, who a few 
years ago came here apparently in the last stages of the consumption. It sounds 
strangely to a visitor from other sections of the United States to liear a party of great, 
healthy San Autonians telling of the number of hemorrhages they had when they 
first cam? to tliis city, yet such meetings are of almost daily occurrence. Were 
there space in this little book (which has already exceeded its originally prescribed 
limits), vve could give the names of many such former invalids who now w^ould 
make worthy members of a fat men's club. We will mention but one, Dr. Mor- 
timer Slocuin, who came here several years ago a confirmed consumptive, having 
frequent hemorrbages from his lungs, weak and emaciated, but who now is a 
picture of perfect; health, and weighing about two hundred pounds. Parties writing 
to Dr. Slocum, who is now engaged in real estate business here, can learn more 
concerning the beneficial effects of our climate. 

Invalids coming here will find the best accommodation and attention at our 
hotels and boarding-houses, and, witii all, very skilful physicians and surgeons to 
prescribe for th'^m. Few cities in America can boast of moie skilful physicians 
than San Antonio, and every school of medical belief and practice is represented by 
distinguished practitioners. A lew of these will be found named in our advertising 
columns, and letters addressed to such will receive full answer. 

Tiie reader must not suppose that San Antonio is the only health resort in 
"Western Texas. True it is the objective point of invalids seeking relief from their 
lung and thruit troubles, and many invalids prefer to remain here and be treated by 
local physicians; but there are hundreds of mineral springs of rare power in special 
diseases, which springs are found at convenient distances by rail and stage from this 
city. 

The Luling Springs, situated at Luling, Texas, on the line of the Galveston, Har- 
rishurg and San Antonio railroad, about fifty-eight miles east of Han Aniouio, 
possess rare curative power in all affections of the kidne3's, being of special power in 
curing Bright's disease of the kidneys. Many wonderful cures have been eilected 
there by using the waters from these springs. They also are of special benefit in 
obstinate cases of indigestion and resultant diseases. There is ample hotel accom- 
modation at these springs. 

Another valuable mineral spring is known as the Sutherland Spring; it is situ- 
ated an easy distance from San Antonio by stage, and lies southeast of this city. In 
fact mineral springs abound here, and nearly every di-sease that tiesh is heir to finds 
a natural remedy at once cheap and effective. Further information regarding 
these mineral sprmgs can be obtained by writing to our local piiysicians, and particu- 
larly to Drs. Jones and Bo wen, of this city, who have given special attention to this 
subject, and who can give a number of instances of truly rcuiarkable cures which 
have been effected by the use of these waters. 

Dr. Joseph Jones, one of our most distinguished practitioners, and who has 
devoted a series of years to the study of our wonderful climate, thus writes on this 
subject : 

WESTERN TEXAS. 

Tfie Great Health Besort for Invalids Suffering from Chronic Affections of the Air 

Passages, Pulmonary Consumption, Chronic Bronchitis, Chronic Inflammation 

of the Throat, Chronic Nasal Catarrh, Asthma, etc. , etc. 

(The most important climate elements, temperature of the atmosphere, its dry- 
ness or moisture, density, electricity, brightness or cloudiness of the sky, the ozone 



THE ALAMO CITY GtriDE. 77 

of the atmosphere, etc., will be considered in the comparison of this section with 
other places having a reputation as health resorts.) 

MINNESOTA. 

Bei^inning with Minnesota, which has a very severe climate, but for the very- 
short pleasant summers there would be but little to commend it to the invalid. The 
summer is so short that in most cases there cannot be more than temporary improve- 
ment. Tlie winters cannot be endured by invalids from a warmer climate. The 
mean temperature for the year is 42°. The daily variations amount to 40\ Much 
of the Slate is free from malaria, and the air is pure. Results represent the State 
unfavorably, especially for consumptives. 

AMONG THE ROCKIES. 

The .climate of the western and interior mountain country (Cordilleras) of the 
States and Territories requires our earnest attention because of the thousands of 
invalids-going there yearly. Thi^ vast mountain country of Colorado, Nevada, 
Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Dakota, of nearly a million square miles, has a 
climate notorious for its sudden and violent changes of temperature, also very light 
and dr\' air. At Denver, Colorado, an elevation of more than five thousand feet 
above the sea, the annual mean temperature is 47*. Extremes for the year about 17° 
below, and 100" above zero; in a single month, 10° below and 83° above zero. 

It is not uncommon for the daily variation to reach 40°; equability cannot be 
claimed for either of the seasons. The effect of this rare atmosphere ou invalids 
but recently from one of greater density', suffering from chronic disease of the 
lungs, is wonderful. All can understand that in pulmonary consumption the 
capacitv of the lungs for receiving air is more or less curtailed, and that air may be 
very pure, as it is in this mountain country, yet if sufficient cannot be received into 
tiic lungs to supply the oxygen necessary to change the blood from venous 
til arterial, life cannot be supported — the sufferer must die. If we consider that 
density of the atmosphere diminishes in the ratio that volume increases, at an eleva- 
tion of one mile (that being about the elevation of Denver), the density is 
diminished one-fourtli and the volume increased one fourth. Therefore, at Denver 
tbe invalid has to take into the lungs by each inspiration one fourth more of air by 
voivum^ I ban would be required at the level of the sea to receive the same 
amount of oxygen. In health the adult takes into the lungs by each insp'ration 
twi-nty inches of air at sea level; at Denver, twenty-five is required. The imme- 
diate "effect upon the consumptive on reaching that altitude is ihe dreadful feeling 
of want of air, the sufferer exclaiming, frequently: "I can't get enougli air." 
Accompanying this feeling we find frequent feeble pulse, frequent respirations, 
reaching sixty or more per minute, congestion and acute inflammation of lung tissue 
adjacent to parts affected by tubercle; hem irrhages, passive or active, are common. 
We see persons having light hemorrhages while walking about, and it is not a rare 
occurrence to see an active hemorrhage produce death very suddenly. These con- 
ditions and facts apply in greater or less deirree to this vast mountain countrj', 
known as the Cordilleras. It is a good country for diseased liver and spleen, 
caused by living in a malarious country; also for dyspeptics, but it is evidently the 
duty of the physician to advise his patients suffering from pulmonary consumption 
against going to a country so fraught with danger of dreadful hemorrhages, prema- 
ture death, etc. 

CALIFORIA. 

The California coast, from Santa Barbara to San Diego, has a good climate for 
consumptives. The air is invigorating, temperature uniform, the range per annum 
is very small. The great distance to be travelled by most invalids is one of the 
principal objections to making this selection. 

FLORIDA 

has been well tried by consumptives and has failed to sustain its once good reputa- 
tion. Malaria, an enervating amosphere, and the body of cold water coming down 
from the extreme north, between the coast and Gulf Stream, reaching a great way if 
not the entire length of the Florida coast, causing chilly winds several months of 
the year, constitute some of the disadvantages of this climate for invalids. 



78 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

The climates of other health resorts in the United States are very well repre- 
sented in respect to temperature, character of the atmosphere, etc., by those treated 
of above .We tind an exception in some important respects in Western Texas. This 
section af "health belt" has become the home of the consumptive and for those 
suffering from any of the forms of chronic disease of the air passages. « 

WESTERN TEXAS 

has an elevation of about four hundred to sixteen hundred feet above the level of 
the sea. ,The atmosphere is dry, deuse, very invigorating, free from fogs and 
malaiia. The following is clipped from the Texas Sun. Dr. Peterson has been 
regarded as one of the most careful and reliable observers. 

Dr. Fred Peterson, who made observations for several years for the govern- 
ment during the years 1868, 1869, and 1870, reports as follows : 

1868— Degs. 
Mean temperature of spring months 74-33 

" '' " summer months. 84 33 

" " " autumn months 71-35 

" " " winter months 5466 

" " whole year 7116 

Rainfall 46 6 inches^ 

1869— Degs. 
Mean temperature of spring months 6ii"43 

" " " summer months 831 

" " " autumn months 67-55 

" " " winter months 52-93 

" " " whole year 67*05 

Eainfall 49-03 inches. 

1870— Degs. 
Mean temperature of spring months 68 7 

" " " summer months 831 

" " " autumn months 6753 

" " " winter months 53-93 

" " " whole year 68 36 

Rainfall 35-12 inches. 

The walls of rock or brick buildings never show dampness or mould, and there 
are more bright, beautiful days during the year than bless the famed land of Italy ; 
the skies are as clear, and the blue vault of heaven more lovely than it can possibly 
be in Italy. From the middle of September until the end of April there can cer- 
tainly nowhere else be found so delightful a climate, and during the summer 
months the nights are cool and pleasant. 

The climate of Western Texas, according to the isothermal lines, which differ 
materially from the parallels of latitude, is placed, San Antonio being the principal 
city, in average temperature with Guaymas, Mexico ; New Orleans, La. ; Madeira 
Islands, and Canton. The climate receives some of its mildness from the great 
ocean current or gulf stream of the Atlantic Ocean, which makes its circuit of about 
ten thousand miles, bringing its heat from the equatorial region and throwing its 
warm streams hundreds of miles inland ; and it fortunately escapes the chilly winds 
of the Florida coast, caused by the body of cold water coming from the north and 
insinuating itself between the land and gulf stream, the coast of Western Texas being 
hundreds of miles beyond its terminus. It is the Pacific Ocean current (Eura Sewa 
stream) which imparts to the coast climate of California much of its mildness. 

A NATURAL DISINFECTANT. 

Western Texas is again favored by nature in the abundance of her disinfectant 
(ozone). This element of the atmosphere is so abundant that meats are preserved 
perfectly in the open air without salt. The bodies of hundreds and thousands of 
dead animals lying on the prairies emit no odor whatever. It is this, with the other 
elements of a pure atmosphere, which removes tubercle and cures the consumptive. 
It is a well established fact that yellow fever cannot prevail here as an epidemic. 
It is equally true that ozone constitutes the exemption. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUrDF. 79 

WONDERFUL CURES. 

Time and space will not permit rae to make anytbins^ more than a hasty review 
of a few of the many cases in our midst, illustrating the wonderful cliaiiges and 
effects which nature has in this climate wrought upon the constitution of man -, and 
these very cases stand amongst our leading citizens to-day as living monuments to 
the credit of Western Texas. 

Among others who have felt the lasting benefits of this balmy clime may be 
mentioned Judge Ogden, now one of the leading practising attorneys of this city ; 
Colonel King, formerly editor of the San Antonio Daily Express ; \V. H. Jaclison, 
the owner of a large ranch of improved cattle, and H. H. McLane, a retired stock- 
raiser, who resides on a beautiful place at the head of the San Antonio River, and 
there, surrounded by health, wealth, and happiness, sings the praises of Western 
Texas. 

LIFE INSURANCE DISCOUNTED. 

A short sketch from what is known of the life of Dr. Mortimer Slocum, one of 
the old and much-esteemed citizens of this place, will undoubtedly interest many of 
our readers. 

About twenty years ago Dr. Slocum was a resident of Chicago, 111. He was 
then practicing homoeopathy in that city. He had a steadily-increasing practice, 
and as time flew by he became the son-in-law of Dr. Smith, who was about the first 
doctor to unfurl the banner of homoeopathy iu the West. He afterwards formed a 
partnership with Dr. E. A. Small, a celebrated horaceopath of Chicago, and they were 
soon doing the leading business of that city. Dr. Slocum's health, however, gave 
way, and he was soon afflicted with severe hemorrhages. He saw at once that he 
would be obliged to give up his practice and seek a more genial climate, therefore 
he went to New Orleans, La. After remaining two winters there, without much 
improvement, he returned to Chicago 

In Chicago, however, he grew worse so rapidly that it was feared he would not 
live from one mouth to anotlier. As a last resort he bid farewell to his friends and 
departed for San Antonio, Texas, which was then quite a journey from Chicago. 
A short time after he arrived here he received an offer from the Life Insurance Com- 
pany in which he was insured, to compromise with him, as no one expected him to 
live. Hj accepted the compromise, received $1,5U0 in gold for his policy, and 
determined to live. 

He was at this time, and long after, only able to walk about one hundred yards 
at a time, and after resting a while, would continue his walk. I have heard it stated 
by himself and others that he has frequently been tracked along the pavement by 
the blood that flowed from his lungs as he walked along. 

Such was tl.e condition of this gentleman upon his arrival in San Antonio some 
twenty years ago; but with the advantages of this magnificent climate, assisted by 
careful and judicious homoeopathic treatment, he steadily improved until freed from 
the inroads of that fearful disease. 

He is at the present time the picture of health, and is living on a high hill just 
seven miles west, which overlooks this city, where he can still enjoy the delightful 
breezes and balmy air to which he owes his life. 

Mr. Robert Vance, formerly connected with the house of Emory, Lowe & Co., 
of Louisville, Ky., was, when he arrived here, afflicted with frequent and severe 
hemorrhages, and was of a consumptive family, most of whom had died of lung 
disease. He .spent two years, from April, 1860, at the ranch of H. H. McLane, in 
Karnes County, West Texas, and there left with health perfectly restored, and is now 
with his family residing in Louisville, Ky. 

He has also a sister, Mrs. Payne, of Goliad, "West Texas, who came here in the 
fall of 1861) with very decided symptoms of tubercular disease, who has long since 
been perfectly restored to health. 

Two brothers and two sisters of the Ruckman family, also consumptives by 
hereditary descent, were similarly restored to health; the two former are still living 
in Helena, Karnes County, Texas, and the two sisters have returned to their old 
home in Pennsylvania. 

It would take volumes to enumerate each individual cure, and these that I have 
cited are some few of those which we have evidences of, daily, in our social inter- 
course with our friends. 



80 TOE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

One crrer t mistake that seems to prevail generally amongst invalids, is that they 
think they must go home as soon as the summer seasonsets in; that it will not 
only do them no ^ood to remain here, but it will debilitate and further weaken 
their exhausted frsm3s. I have examined this matter thoroughly, and while I find 
that it is better for invalids to come here during the fall or early spring, yet the 
greatest benefit that they derive from this climate is during the spring and summer 
months; and the best and most remarkable ^cures that I have found were of those 
who remained here both summer and winter. 

Suitable accommodations can be obtained here in the city, but after February 
the weatli'^r is pleasant enough to go to the country, and there, with good diet, com- 
fortable quarters, healthy exercise in the pure country air, unrestrained by etiquette 
or fashion, "roughing it" in such a way as will eventually restore all those to* 
health who will follow this advice, if their coming here has not been delayed into 
the last stages of the disease. 

While we have numerous evidences of wonderful cures before, yet I must 
unhesitatingly urge all those who are afflicted not to delay but come at tince to San 
Antonio, Texas; and from here you can select that portion of Western Texas best 
suited to your disease, and the sooner you invalids make up your minds to come, 
the sooner your health will be restored, and the better will be your chances in after 
life. Yours truly, 

J. Jones, M.D. 
San Antonio, Texas. 

VITAL STATISTICS. 

The City Physician, Dr. R. Menger, presents the following ofiicial report of the 
mortality in this city during the year 1881. We give it almost entire, only omitting 
such portions of the report as have no bearing on the city's health, and relate to 
recommendations made by Dr. Menger to the City Council in regard to amendments 
proposed to the City Ordinances for the preservation of health. 

Total number of deaths from all causes, 560; total number from diseases of the 
respiratory system, 133; total from diseases of the nervous system, 1(.3; total from 
diseases of the alimentary system, 95; total fromzymotic causes, 124. Whites, 3G7; 
colored 03; Mexicans, 130; residents, 115; non-residents, 445. Natives of Texas, 
323; United States, 160; Mexico, 27; Germany, 33; other States, 18. In January 
there died 28; February, 34; March, 40; April, 20; May. 82; June, T-i; July, 51; 
August, 49; September, 44, October, 41; November, 44; December, 46. Ward 1, 
128; Ward 2, 123; Ward 3. 176; Ward 4, 75. Under 1 year, 203, from 1 to 5 years of 
age, 72; from 4 to 19, 20; from 10 to 20, 29; from 20 to 30, 61; from 30 to 40. 62; 
from 40 to 50, 33; from 50 to 00, 29; from 60 to 70, 22; from 70 to 80, 22; from 80 to 
90, 4; from 90 to 100, 1 ; at 105, 1 ; at 106, 1. 

Consumption, 78; pneumonia, 24; hemorrhage of lungs, 4; bronchitis, 11; 
whooping cough, 11; croup, 3; abscess of pharynx, 1; asrhyxia, 1; gastritis and 
inflammation of bowels, 26; cholera infantum, 40; cholera morbus, 3; dysentery, 13; 
diarrhoea (mostly chronic), 17; natural obstruction of rectum, 1; cancer recti, 
1 ; meningitis and encaphalitis, 13 ; apoplexy, 9; cerebro-spinal meningitis, 4; 
myelo-meningitis spinalis, 2; tetanus and trismus (mostly children), '^7; con- 
vulsions (mostly cliildren from teething or meningitis), 13; sunstroke, 2; fright, 
1; alcoholism, 5; rheumatism, 1; muscular atrophy, 1; hepatitis, 10; drop.sy, 5; icte- 
rus, 3: omphlitis, 1; heart disease, 12; thrombosis of pulmonary artery, 1; typhoid 
fever, 16; intermittent fever, 2; malarial fever, 5; measles, 11; puerperal fever, 4; 
erysipelas, 1; gangrene, 3; general peritonitis, 2; Bright's disease, 3; syphilis, 4; 
teething, 5; general debility and inanition, 10; stillborn, 25; premature birth, 15; 
marasmus and scrofula, 43; congenital antemia, 1; strangulated hernia, 1; stone in 
bladder, 2; secondary hemorrhage after amputation, 1; secondary amputation, 
1; accidental injuries, 9; internal injuries, 2; shot wounds, 4; burns, 4; drowned, 2; 
suicides, 6: poisoning, 5. 

There is an increase of deaths during this year of 75, as compared with the 
total number of deaths of the year previous. This is mostly due to the increase 
of our city in population, the population of this year being estimated up to 35,000 
inhabitants; that of the year previous up to 23,000. 

The report shows that the largest mortality prevailed during the year in the 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 81 

first and second wards. In May, June, and July we had the most sickness and the 
greatest mortality. As usual, the causes of death were mainly from consumption 
and children stillborn, or in infancy or childhood. The total number of deaths in 
infancy and childhood were 305. If this number and those from consumption are 
excluded from the entire mortuary report, but 177 deaths, from the most different 
causes, are left. Having already gone into detailed explanations concerning the 
mortality of last year, it may be allowed to say a few more words and ascertain the 

CAUSES OP THE INCllEASED MORTALITY AMONG CONSUMPTIVES IN OUR CITY. TheSB 

unfortunate consumptives are generally sent here by the advice of northern physi- 
cians on account of our headhy climate. Now that our climate in general is 
extremely healthy and beneficial to lung troubles is unquestionably approved by the 
older physicians of this country, and is also proved by many former consumptives, 
who came here apparently near the marjrin of the grave, and are now enjoying the 
best of health in our city. But frequently strangers from the north, and even from 
Mexico, visit our city, whose lungs are so affected or partially destroyed by disease, 
that our climate is and can be of but short benefit to them. The doctor goes oa 
to relate that invalids come here and remain in unfavorable localities for comforts 
which they have been acccustomcd to enjoy at their homes. A desire to save 
expense is often the cause of this; but cheap accommodations can be obtained in 
neighboring localities at a greater elevation than this city, which is of benefit in all 
lung troubles. If the invalids on their arrival here will at once consult our local 
physicians they can obtain all the needed information on the subject. 

Dr. Mcnger has also added the following report of deaths in this city from 
January 1 to May 'SI, 1882, which will prove of general interest: 

Total deaths from all causes, 33'2; of these, 146 were whites; 20 colored, and 
56 Mexicans. These are again divided into 165 residents and 57 non-residents. 
Their nativity was: Texas, 106; United States, 74; Mexico, 16; Germany, 15; other 
countries, 11. Divided according to age, the report shows 63 under one year; 11 
from one to five years; 6 from five to ten years; 6 from ten to twenty years; 36 from 
twenty to thirty years; 43 from thirty to forty years; 23 from forty to fifty years; 
14 I'rom fifty to sixty years; 12 from sixty to seventy years; 7 from seventy to eighty 
years; and 3 from eighty to ninety years. The causes of death are divided as lol- 
iows: Zymotic diseases, 11; diseases of nervous system, 31; diseases of respiratory 
organs, 52; typhoid fever, 7; malarial fevers, 4; phthisis pulmona is, 47; pneumo- 
nia, 5; meningitis and encephalitis 12- convulsions. 19; al^ular and other heart 
diseases, 9; and stillborn, 21. 

S„NTA ROSA HOSPITAL. 

This is an institution of which San Antonians justly feel proud, it being ably 
conducted under the charge of Mother Superior St. Pierre, a.ssisted by a trained 
corps of Sisters of Charity, and affording an unequalled home for the afflicted who 
visit this city in searcii of health and npeding the best medical attention and careful 
nursing. The hospital building is large and roomy, with perfect ventilation. The 
location is an admirable one, being on high land west of the old city, fronting San 
Pidro Plaza, and convenient to the International and Great Northern Railroad 
depot and with the depot line of the street cars passing within a short distance from 
the door. Here, retired, yet easily accessible from any part of the city by means of 
the street cars or haeks, commanding a beautiful view from its windows, and con- 
stantly fanned bj' health bestowing breezes; removed from the bustle and confusion 
of the city, yet connected with every poition of it by telephone; having ample 
grounds and all the modern conveniences, including water from the San Antonio 
Water Works, with ample bathing facilities on each floor; it is a model of its kind, 
while the scrupulous neatness of every part of the establishment and the motherly care 
of the good Sisters bring comfort and rest to the weaiy invalid, and often of itself 
restores the patient to perfect health, even without the intervention of medical 
skill. 

The City Physician, in referring to this institution in his annual report for 1881, 
says: "Our private hospital, Santa Rosa, has undergone many improvements during 
the past year. There is more room fur the sick, and these are provided with good, 
clean beds. The hospital has its water works, several bathing apparatus in well- 
ventilated apartments, litters on which to carry sick or injured persons, a dead house. 



82 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

etc. It has been kept in good sanitary order during the year, and the Sisters of 
Charit}' deserve much credit for their untiring attention to the sick. The total 
number of sick persons admitted during the year is two hundred and twelve; of 
these one hundred and fifty were private patients, and among them twenty-seven 
deaths are recorded. The remaining sixty-two patients were city paupers, mostly 
strangers, of which number twelve died. Several patients were admitted in a 
dying condition, and were laborers employed on the various railroads centreing 
here." 

Private patients are given rooms by themselves, supplied with all the home 
comforts so grateful to invalids, and at a cost ranging from a dollar to two dollars 
per day, including board and nursing. Each private patient engages his own 
physician, and must pay extra for his medicines It will be seen from the above 
that this hospital not only offers superior accommodations, but is also much cheaper 
for an invalid than any liotel or boarding-house. 



THE ALAMO CITT GUIDE. 83 



CHAPTER VII 

WATER POWER AND MANUFACTURES. 

THE SAN ANTONIO IIIVER. 

One of the principal natural attractions of San Antonio is the beautiful little 
river which bursts forth from the ground from innumerable springs about three 
miles north of the Main Plaza. The two principal springs are beautiful points to 
visit. The one in the villa of Mr. Geo. W. Brackenndge can only be seen by 
obtaining the permission of the owner, but the other large spring on the Lane 
estate can be visited at any time and will well repay the visitor. The true source 
of the river is believed to be an underground stream which first finds an outlet 
at the point indicated. One of the facts which goes to substantiate the sub- 
terranean river theory is that the water in the head springs remains at a uniform 
temperature during the entire year, and the rise and fall of the water in the river, 
other than from overflows of other streams in this vicinity, and which are of very 
rare occurrence, is not affected by local rains. By some it is supposed that the 
subterranean source of these springs is fed by the melting snnws of the Sierra 
Nevada mountains, which, entering the subterranean channel, are thence conveyed 
to this locality, where they find an outlet and form one of the most attractive little 
streams in Western Texas. 

From the head springs the river flows in a very tortuous course between well 
wooded banks to the Gulf of Mexico, winding its way through this city so that in 
the six rpiles included in the city limits, its bed is fully fifteen miles in length, and, 
besides furnishing the power anil water supply for the waterworks and the power 
for local mills, also feeds the ancient and modern irrigation ditches which also 
traverse the city's length and irrigate the vegetable and other gardens along their 
course. 

The river is crossed within the city limits by eight bridges; six of these are 
large iron bridges for teams and pedestrians and two foot bridges. The iron 
bridge over the river at the Houston Street crossing is to be replaced by a large 
bridge, and the present Houston Street bridge is to be placed over the river at some 
other point. These bridges are beautiful as well as substantial structures, and add 
to the attractiveness of the city as well as to the convenience of citizens and visitors 
Fish abound in the river, and consist of the blue catfish, common catfish, perch, 
gars, trout, suckers, buffalo, German carp, shad, and other varieties, placed there 
by the United States Fish Commissioners. Above where the irrigation ditches 
empty into the river, near its head, the water is very clear and of a beautiful blue 
color, but lower down it becomes more tinged with the color of the clay which 
borders its banks. 

In 1877 Mr. W. R. Freeman, an expert in such matters and the designer and 
engineer of the San Antonio Waterworks, made a very careful survey of the 
river. From his report we glean the following facts: The volume of the 
river, determined by actual experiments, is about 16,149 cubic feet per minute, 
equivalent to SOJo horse power for each foot of fall. The horse power for any fall 
may be found by multiplying 30}.^ by the fall. The total fall in the river from its 
source to the end of the city limits on the south is about lU7o8 feet. Being but the 
visible result of a powerful subterranean river, its volume and power are capable of 
being indefinitely increased by artesian wells near its source, while, by removing 
existing obstructions or by straightening its course the rapidity of its current can 
be more than doubled and its original purity will be retained along us course. As 
yet the capabilities of this wonderful stream are but partially developed, yet it 
drives the powerful machinery of our waterworks, furnishes pure water to the many 
private consumers, the fire hydrants, private hydrants, the public and private 
fountains about the city, and is also used to drive the water motors which run the 
large presses of the Daily Express. Evening Light, M. M. Mooney and other printing 
establishments, besides a number of small manufactories. It also furnishes the 



84 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

water for our ancient and modern system of irrigation ditches and drives the 
machinery of laiger mills and manufactories alonij its course, and yet has sufficient 
unemployed power to drive many times the amount of machinery now in use. 

SAN ANTONIO WATERWORKS. 

The waterworks here are the monument of the engineering sliill of Mr. W. R. 
Freeman, who, though still a younir man, is an engineer of considerable experience 
and sound judgment in the construction and management of waterworks, he having 
been connected with the construction of the Kansas City and Austin waterworks, 
besides other engineering enterprises calculated to give him great experience and of 
great benefit in a work of this character. That he did his work well the present 
success of the waterworks fully attests. Mr. Freeman was backed in his work by 
Mr. J. B. Lacoste, a public-spirited citizen, who, by his financial standing and ability, 
furnished the funds necessary to complete the enterprise. The works are now in the 
hands of a powerful stock company, headed by Mr. George W. Brackenridge, presi- 
dent of the San Antonio National Bank, under whom numerous improvements and 
extensions have been made. 

The main buildings, machinery, etc., of the waterworks are situated near the 
head of tiie river on the road to the Brackenridge villa, advantage being taken of a 
large bend to secure the desired fall of water to work the powerful turbines which 
drive the pumps. The pump-house, a one-story stone structure, built with an eye 
to beauty as well as use, contains all the machinery of the works, and is connected 
with the company's office by telephone, thereby placing the machinery under the 
control of the officers of the company three miles away, and in ca.se of fire or other 
emergency, enabling word for an increase of quantity or power to be given imme- 
diately. The works are a combination of the reservoir and direct pressure system, 
a system which was originated and perfected by Mr. Freeman. The reservoir is 
situated on a hill about a mile east of the works, at an elevation above the Main 
Plaza of fully one hundreil and fifty feet. This reservoir has a capacity of five 
millions gallons, and an additional reservoir of larger capacity is projected. The 
original pumping machinery con-isted of two Wortliington duplex pumps, with 
water plungers fourteen inches in diameter and ten and one-half inch stroke, driven 
by two Eclipse double turbines seventy-two inches in diameter, working under a 
head of six and one-half feet fall. This fall was produced by excavating a race 
course six hundred and fifty feet in length and forty feet in width across a neck of 
land at the works. Since then additional power has been added and the mains now 
extend to every part of the city. This is the first use of the water power of the river 
below its source. 

THE ALAMO MILL. 

Passing down the river siveral miles in its windings along the valley, and by 
many admirable locations for manufacturing enterprises, we next come to the Alamo 
Mill, which was established about eight years ago, and is situated on Avenue B and 
Eighth Street, and is run by water power, driving a sixty-inch iron turbine water 
wheel, of about forty-horse power, which can be increased to one hundred and 
twenty-five horse power, and is said to be the finest water power now in use within 
the city limits. The present capacity of the mill is about fifty barrels of flour per 
day, and the enterprising managers of the mill manufacture all grades of flour, 
including the famed " patent process;" also corn meal, and all kmds of mill feeds. 
The mill has been doing an increasing business, and improved macliinery has been 
added since its commencement. No flour is better thought of than the products of 
the Alamo Mill, and the machinery is kept running day and night, with orders 
ahead. 

THE LAUX MILL. 

Passing down the river by other undeveloped sites for manufacturing enter- 
prises, we next come to the Laux mill. This is a five story stone structure, with 
ample machinery, which can be diiven by either water power or steam. The water 
power is communicated to the machinery by a large undershot iron water wheel, of 
about twelve horse power, while the steam engine now in use is of about forty-horse 
power. The capacity of the mill is from twelve to fourteen bushels of flour per 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 85 

hour, besides corn meal, mill feeds, and hominy. The mill is now run hy Messrs. 
Landa & Sons also of New Brounfels, Texas, and is situated on the bank of tlie 
river a little back from Soledad Street. 

THE LEWIS MILL. 

Ap:ain following the course of the river in its tortuous windings, we next come 
to the Lewis Mill, which has been run for many years, and is situated on the river 
bank, at the double iron bridge which crosses the liver at this point and connects 
with Garden Street on the south. This mill is now controlled by A. Beyer »fc Co., 
and has about twelve hor.'^e power communicaled to the machinery by an undershot 
water wheel. Its capacity is ubout twenty-four barrels of flour or three hundred 
and .sixty bushels of corn meal in each twenty-four hours. 

THE GUENTHERS MILLS. 

Following the river in its windings by other undeveloped water powers we next 
come to the Guenthers Mills, run by C. H. Guenther & Sons. These mills are des- 
ignated as the upper and lower mills, and are located near the iron bridge which 
leads to the road passing the United States Arsenal. The upper mill is run by a 
thirty horse power undershot water wheel, operating three pairs of stoue.«, and has 
a capacity of twenty barrels of No. 2 flour and two hundred and fifty bushels 
of corn meal in twenty four hours. The lower mill, situated below the upper mill, 
consists of flour and corn mills. The flour mill°is nm by a seventy-two inch (forty 
horse power) turbine water wheel, operating five pairs of stones (burrs), and all the 
latest improved mill machinery. Its capacity is seventy barrels of the best flour in 
twenty-four hours. The corn mill is run by a twenty horse power undershot water 
wheel, operating two pairs of stones, and has a cajjaeity of two hundred and fifty 
bushels of corn meal in twenty-four hours. 

THE MISSION MILLS. 

From this point there are no mills of any description, although the river abounds 
with admirable water powers, until we reach the old Mission of San Juan, about six 
miles below the city, where are located theMissif)n Mills, the largest enterprise in the 
way of manufacturing yet established here. It was about two years ago when 
Messrs. Berg Bros, started this enterprise and built a large four story frame mill for 
their wool burring, scouring, and pulling establishment. Here the burry and dirty 
wools are converted into a merchantable article, ready for immediate manufacture. 
They also began pulling wool, and have thus made this city a large market for sheep 
skins. Some skins and furs are tanned at these mills by a quick process, and all the 
work done is strictly firsf-class. So great has been the success of the enterprising 
projectors of these mills ih it last year they erected a large cotton gin near by, also 
run by water power, and have done a large amount of business, which has caused 
them already to increase their power, and even tlicn they constantly had a large 
amount of work ahead. The present power in the main mill is obtained from a 
forty-four inch turbine water wheel, of a present capacity of about forty horse 
power, which is capable of being increased to three hundred and fifty horse power. 
They now contemplate putting in full machinery for manufacturing woolen fabrics 
next winter, and will use only the latest patents of machinery in the work. The mill 
is connected wiih the otRce of Messrs. Berg & Bro., in this city, by a private tele- 
phone line erected by Messrs. Berg & Bro. In order to avoid being considered vis- 
ionary we will not speak of the possibilities of this enterprise, but we only repeat 
the opinion of all who are capable of judging of the matter, when we say that no 
enterprise has ever been established in this city which promises grander results than 
the Mission Mills. 

OTHER STREAMS, ETC. 

San Antonio is one of the best watered cities in the Southwest; not only has it 
the San Antonio River winding its way through the eastern part of the city, its 
very extensive system of accquias or irrigation ditches, and the waterworks 
mains extending to every part of the city, but also there are several small streams 
or creeks extending through the city limits west of and parallel to the river from 
north to south. The principal of these is the San Pedro Creek, which takes its rise 



8G THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

at the beautiful resort known as San Pedro Spring-s, gushing forth from rocks and 
feeding numerous little ponds and lakes, feeding the San Pedro acequia or irriga- 
tion ditch, and emptying into the San Antonio River near the southern boundary of 
the city. This creek is a perpetual watercourse, and might be utilized by manufac 
turers," but at present is only used as a bathing place and for irrigation. West of 
this, and within the city limits, li^s the Alazan Creek, which al.so feeds an acequia. 
but the creek itself has been neglected, and is so filled that it can only be relied on 
during the rainy season. Still further west lies the Leon Creek and the Medina 
River, with several minor creeks intervening. There are numerous wells about the 
city, and very many cisterns, so that at no time in the history of the city has there 
been a total lack of water, even in the seasons of the most prolonged droughts. The 
artesian origin of our rivers and crefks also attest the feasibility of an extensive 
system of artesian wells, which could bs established at any time if there existed a 
reason for boring them. In such an emergency the cost of the wells would be very 
slisht, as the rocks in this vicinity are mainly limestone, and would offer but slight 
resistance to the augers used for that purpose. Besides, the quality of water 
obtained here is very pure, and once the limestone formation was pierced it would 
be equal to the best freestone water of other countries. The rich and varied mineral 
deposits of this section of the country give promise of mineral wells of rare m>di- 
cinal power. Many such have already been found in the adjacent country, as will 
be seen elsewhere in this volume. 

OTHEK MANUFACTimrNG ENTERPRISES. 

With an abundance of raw material, water power unexcelled by any city in the 
South, cheap land, a climate which enables out-door work to be done during the 
entire year without causing the operative any inconvenience, an abundance of supe- 
rior building material and "moderate taxes, it is a matter of surprise to visitors that 
there arc not more manufacturing enterprises here. The fact is that Western Texas 
has until recently been almost entirely given up to the stockmen and general tradi-rs. 
Until recently it was a common sayina: that even agricultun; could not be profitably 
engaged in west of San Antonio. This fallacy is now being rapidly disproved by 
the sturdj' agriculturists who are rapidly converting the western prairies into fertile 
farms, where not only grain but fruits are being raised with profit to the producers. 
The stockmen of the past made largo profits, and were a lavish set of men, great big- 
hearted fellows, who bought what they wanted without regard to price, and who 
cared little for other enterprises than the one in which they were engaged. To .such 
a class the arguments of projectors of manufacturing enterprises were nonsense; 
they had what they wanted, bought it and paid for it, and with their large gains 
they thought very little of saving a few dollars by patronizing home industry, or by 
the development of the country. It has only been within the last few years that a 
change has been noted. The stockmen are now located further West while the quiet 
farmer has located near the city. A new people have come on the scene, men from 
the manufacturing districts of the North and from Europe, who have been trained 
to closer ideas of economy. These are the men who are now developing the 
resources of this wonderland of America, and who, aided by others, will cause the 
San Antonio of the future to be the Lowell of Texas. The present showing, there- 
fore, is but the beginning of the end, and, although small, is the neuclus of the 
grand results which must follow the present business boom which is waking the old 
Spanish town into a realization of present opportunities. 

Other than those already mentioned, we have the following quasi-manufacturing 
enterprises here : Two soap factories, several small tanneries, a broom factory, a 
cotton-seed oil mill, patent wood pavement factory, several steam planing mills, and 
sash, door, and blind factories, several cotton gins, cement, and artificial stone fac- 
tories, extensive lime kilns, breweries, ice factories, etc., etc. 



THE AliAMO CITY GUIDE. 87 



CHAPTER VIII. 

WATER POWER OF THE CO:SIAL. 

A WORK of this character is necessarily circumscribed in its scope, and deals 
more in generalities than in special descriptions of other than purely local scenes 
and events. The reader may, therefore, b:; deceived as to the general character of 
the surrounding country and be led to believe that San Antonio possesses all the 
natural advantages of a very large range of territory. Such is not the case, as there 
are very many valuable manufacturing sites in Western Texas, of wiiich we can 
only- mention one, but which can be taken as a sample of others, which if they do 
not equal it in all of their natural advantages, yet which offer rare opportunities for 
investments which cannot fad to yield very large profits in proportion to the amount 
of capital required. 

About thirty miles in a northeasterly direction from San Antonio lies the beau- 
tiful little city of New Braunfels, the county seat of Comal County, a thrifty city 
well supplied with churches and schools, and surrounded by a very rich agricul- 
tural country, now tributary to San Antonio, and possessing several very fine water 
powers, but chiefly those of the Comal and the Gaadalupe Rivers, both of which 
water the city. The New Braunfels woolen mills have a wide reputation beyond 
the limits of Texas, and other like enterprises here yield correspondingly large 
returns. The International and Great Northern Railroad passes through the city, 
and gives it direct communication with the large markets of the north; San Antonio, 
which is about an hour and thirty minutes ride by rail, and thenre with Mexico, 
the International and Great Northern Railway being a link in the Gould system of 
radroads; also with the Pacific coast and Gulf ports by changing cars at San Antonio 
and tnking the Southern Pacific Railway at that point for the Pacific, or the Galves- 
t(m, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway for Galveston, New Orleans, and other 
Gulf ports and eastern markets. There are also several stage Hoes which connect 
New Braunfels with various points along the line of the Galveston, Harrisburg and 
San Antonio Railway. Here is also located 

THE FINEST WATER POWER IN TEXAS. 

This water power is from the head springs of the Comal River, a tributary of 
the Guaduiupe. These springs, which are almost innumerable, and thus far in all 
seasons have been found to be apparently inexhaustible, gush forth from the bise 
of the Comal Mountains and the river banks, while for nearly three miles the river 
itself fairly boils with springs, which burst forth from the river bed. Such a supply 
of water power the writer has never before seen, and its artesian origin causes it to 
maintain a uniform temperature during the entire year, while at the same time its 
purity is little short of marvellous. No more beautiful scenes can be imagined than 
aro afforded along the entire length of the Comal River. The heavily timbered 
banks, with their innumerable springs gushing forth at the very roots of luxuriant 
tropical water plants, which wave their immense leaves in mute acknowledgment of 
the mighty power of the swift flowing stream which gives them sustenance; the mar- 
vellously clear water, through whose depths can be seen large fish darting among the 
vari-colored fern-like plants and mosses which carpet the river bottom, with fre- 
quent breaks sparkling with the dazzling brightness of the pebbles which mark the 
outpouring of fresh contributions from subterranean water courses to this great 
motor. Oa one side fertile fields, rich in their waving crops of grain and cotton, 
while high up on the other side are seen the wooded heights of the Comal mountains 
with occasional glimpses of the outcropping of the inexhaustible rock supph% which 
a beneficent Creator has placed thus hand.v for the builders of the great manufacto- 
ries which will in the near future line these baaks, and in turn feed thousands of peo- 
ple yet unborn. There may be those who think we write too stronglj-, but they 
are those who have not seen the beauties and appreciated the possibilities of the 
Comal River. This river, from its head spring for several miles, together with the 



88 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

property on both banks, including stone quarries, cedar brakes, forests, mountain 
tops and fertile fields, is the property of Mr. Joseph Landa, the Rothschild of New 
Brauafels, himself a manufacturer, and constantly extending his manufacturing 
enterprises along his property. Mr. Landa is a native of Germany, but has resided 
in New Braunfels thirty years, and in Western Texas thirty-five years. It is 
a good proof of the healthfulness of the climate of New Braunfels that although 
Mr. Landa is now seventy-one years of age yet he is as sprightlj" as many a man of 
thirty years, and if he was quietly sitting in his busduess office (which he seldom is, 
as he is a man of great activity), a stranger would not suppose him to be a day older 
than fifty years Fed by a raceway from the Comal River in his large flour, meal, 
and feed mill, a three story and a half stone structure, very solidly built, seventy- 
five feetin length by thirty feet in width, and provided with all the hitest patents of 
mill machinery, driven by a single, thirty inch turbine water wheel, at present working 
under a force of twenty feet fall, which can at will be increased to a fall of thirty- 
three feet. This mill he intends to increase in size until it is more than double its 
present dimensions, as his constantly increasing business demands larger manufac- 
turing facilities. So far as water power is concerned, it is, as we have before staled, 
practically inexhaustible. There are three additional raceways already constructed 
for this mill, each of which have a present fall of twenty feet, and capable of 
being increased to thirty three feet, which will carry the largest sized turbine water 
wheels. 

Besides these there are two other raceways, each with a like fall, which are 
intended to run other machinery for manufactories not yet established. A forty-eight 
inch turbine water-wheel, with all the necessary shafting in a well constructed 
power-house, is now in position and awaits the coming of capitalists to utilize it. 
This location is at once high and dry, although with the water-power so abundant 
and immediately at hand. A cool breeze blows almost constantly during the sum- 
mer months, and there is an abundance of shade all over the place, the trees being 
pecans, elms, various varieties of oak, figs, peaches, plums, pear, etc. Fruit is 
very abundant, and rare varieties of grapes are raised there with much less care 
than is required for the common varieties in the North. 

Another important recomn e idation for this site for manufacturing enterprises, 
is the fact that the land is so hii;h that there is no possible danger of an overflow or 
freshet; surface water producing no appreciable effect on the volume of the water 
flowage, the same being entirely artesian and continuous during the entire year. 
The main track of the International and Great Norther-J Railway, which extends 
from St. Louis through the he; r of Mexico, runs within five hundred feel of the 
Landa Mills, and a switch will be constructed which will run to the mill elevatojs 
and to such other factories as may be erected in that locality, so that there will be 
every facility afforded for the receipt of the raw material and the shipment of the 
products of the mills. 

Mr. Landa will soon build a corn shucker and sheller, and a hay-press on a 
large scale, which will be operated by water-power and will furnish raw material 
for a paper-mill, which he hopes will be erected by capitalists in the near future. 
Such an enterprise would pay a very large per cent, profit, as the country abounds 
with fibrous plants which are peculiarly adapted to paper-making. 

Indeed, the power at this and other points along the land owned by Mt. Landa 
is amply sufficient lo drive all the machinery of the hundreds of mills and factories 
that can be erected there. Manufacturers who desire to know more on this subject 
should address Mr. J. Landa, New Braunfels, Texas, and mention that they saw 
this notice of the property in the "Alamo City Guide." Information regarding all 
the various manufacturing sites in "Western Texas and kindred subjects will be fur- 
nished by Stephen Gould, Secretary Sau Autonio Merchants' Exchange, San Antonio, 
Texas. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 89 



CHAPTER IX. 
BUILDING MATERIAL, QUARRIES, ETC. 

Few localities are so liberally provided with various descriptions of building 
material as San Antonio. Tlie lumber regions of Texas are all accessible to the city 
by rail, and sufficient lumber lor fencing and like purposes is found in the hdls 
about twenty miles to the north, which is brouglit here on wagons. Of stone there 
is no lack; the hills in the immediate vicinity are underlayed with limestone of 
various degrees of durability, some of which yields an excellent lime on being 
subjected to heat. Tliere are several of these limekilns about the city, and they 
are rim to their full capacity both on home orders and orders from other localities. 
If sufficient cipitil was invested in this work the present production might be 
increased many times, and the product would have a ready sale, as even now the 
home demand otten exceeds the supply, and a lack of stock frequently causes 
delays in local building operations. This is another of the business opportunities to 
be found here. 

The building stone is obtained in such liberal quantities that many of the 
private residences and all of the public buildings are constructed of it. This stone 
is generally described as the soft limestone and the hard limestone. The first is 
used in many of the smaller buildings, and when first quarried can be cut into any 
shape with an ordinary hatchet. This soft rock is also used in making lime. The 
stone becomes quite hard on exposure to the air, and will last for a long time, as is 
proven by (he many old buildings about the city which are constructed of it. The 
supply is" apparently inexhaustible. 

The hard limestone is equally plentiful, and is the material used in the construc- 
tion of the U. S. Quartermaster's Depot and numerous public buildings about the 
city. That found at the San Gcronimo quarries, twenty-five miles northwest of this 
city, is pronounced the finest. The city quarries, situated near the head of the San 
Antonio River, furnishes a hard limestone, which, when first quarried, can be cut 
with a hand saw. These quarries are the best patronized on account of their loca- 
tion, and the stone having also been approved by the U. S. engineers in the cf)nstruc- 
tion of government works. The Salado quarry, situated about six miles north 
of the city, furnishes a rock still harder than that obtained from the city quarries, 
and is an excellent building material. From the Calaveras and Chupederas Creeks, 
southeast of the city, we receive a very fine quality of flagging stone, which is 
extensively used here. In fact, in every direction from the city stone of various 
qualities is found in large quantities. It is safe to say tbat, although some of our 
quarries have been worked ever since the white men first entered this valley, yet 
they have never been fully developed, and it will be an impossibility to exhaust 
them, at least f'>r centuries to come. 

The San Geronimo quarries, situated about twenty-five miles northwesterly 
from San Antonio, lie at the base of a series of high hills, or, as they are termed 
here, moun^ai'_s, with abundant water all about them, .several valuable mineral 
springs, and well shaded with cedar groves and other valuable timber. The rock is 
of various qualities, and all of it is of superior quality and is inexhaustible. A new 
town has been laid out near the quarries, and the entire property is now in the 
market. For capitalists this property presents a ready means for making a very 
large profit in a short time The town site is well watered, and is several hundred 
feet above the highest point in San Antonio, which is about seven hundred feet 
above the Gulf of Mexico. If the proper parties take hold of this property it can 
be made a celebrated health resort. 

Cements of the finest qualities are manufactured from various stones and 
clays found here in the greatest abundance. A reference to our remarks about the 
Alamo Cement Works will show this more fully. 

Brick are manufactured in this city on a limited scale only, although large beds 
of brick-clay are known to exist in this vicinity. The trouble seems to be that 



90 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

sufficient capital has never been invested in the work, and skilled labor has not 
been employed. There is a large demand for brick here, but although (here is 
every facility for making brick in this city, yet the best quality is brought here by 
rail. A few years will change this, and then San Antonio brick will form a large 
item in our exports. 

The manufacture of artificial stone injthis city has been carriel to a degree of 
perfection that is very gratifying. The substantial and excellent sidewalks on our 
business streets are constructed of this material, and attest to its superiority over 
any other material previously used for this purpose. Drain tile, chimney caps, etc., 
are also made of it, and it is put to a variety of other uses. This business is still 
in its infancy, but is steadily increasing, .and will soon reach large proportions. 

Pottery of supprior quality is manufactured along the line of the Galveston, 
Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, but with our large and inexhaustilile beds 
of excellent fire-clay and other fine clays, the manufacture of fine pottery should be 
an extensive business here. All that is needed is for parties with experience in the 
work, backed by sufficient capital, to make the start, and a business will be inaugu- 
rated which will pay a very large profit to its projectors. At present there is a 
large and constantly increasing demand for pottery of all kinds here, and San 
Antonio is the depot of supply for a very large section of "Western Texas and 
Mexico. Indeed a large trade can be built up in this line with the Pacific coast on 
the west, as far north as St. Louis, and bounded on the east by New Orleans. This 
is a prize which awaits some one possessing sufficient energy, experience, and 
capital to grasp it. 

THE AliAMO CEMENT COMPANY. 

This is a local corporation which has proved beyond the power of contradiction 
that the very best cement can be manufactured here from the rocks and clays found 
in great abundance in this vicinity. The works of this company are situated about 
three miles in a northerly direction from the business centre of "this city, and are at 
present run by a Greenleaf engine of fifty-hor.se power. In the quarry adjoining is 
found the various compounds necessary for their production. These are carried by 
an elevated tramway to large kilns, 'S2 feet high and nine feet in diameter, lined with 
home-made fire brick, and capable of holding three hundred barrels of cement. 
There it is calcined, and thence conveyed to the Blake crusher. It afterwards 
passes through roller crushers, aiid is conveyed by the elevator to mills on the floor 
above, capable of grinding eighty barrels per day. Here it is ground and immedi- 
ately passed down a chute into the barrels for shipment, unless it be Portland cement, 
which requires further manipulation. These are the present arrangements, but cer- 
tain improvements are being made by which the manual labor in the production of 
these cements will be reduced, and the execution of orders materially expedited to 
the extent of 200 barrels per day. There is a cooperage on the place, and here 
strong barrels are made by competent workmen. The staves and hoops are of 
northern manufacture, but Mr. Kalteyer thinks they could be equally well prepared 
in Texas, and cheaper, and he is anxious to encourage this kind of industry. 

The Alamo Cement Company manufactures two kinds of cement; the " Alamo 
Portland," and the " Alamo Roman." The first grade— the " Alaino Portland "—is 
the best quality, and is equal to the English Portland, which costs from $3 to $5 
more per barrel. The second grade— the " Alamo Roman " — the company places in 
competition with the Rosendale, Louisville, and other American cements, and we are 
pleased to record that the Alamo Roman is at least twice as strong as the Rosendale 
and Louisville cements found in our markets. In other words, that one part ' Alamo 
Roman" cement, mixed with one part of sand, will give a stronger mortar, by 25 
per cent., than Rosendale cement without sand. And, "what is worthy of note, the 
price of the Alamo cement is much less than that of the Rosendale. 

The company are now receiving extensive orders for sidewalks, not only in 
San Antonio, but for other cities. In these, for surface covering, the}'" use only the 
very best cements. In various parts of the city wdl he seen specimens of the 
company''s work, which, for durability and execution, are superior to the work of 
other contractors. Great care is taken in manufacture of all cements, and they are 
in all cases tested before they are sent from the works. The Alamo Cement Com- 
pany have also extensive quarry works on which they are continually quarrying for 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 91 

sidewalks and building stone. Fourteen men and thirteen teamsters are actively 
employed here, and a very large quantity of stone is daily delivered from the 
works. 

The fact that these cements are of local production sliould be sufScient to 
induce Texans to employ them extensively f(jr sidewalks, cisterns, culverts, domes, 
concrete, artificial stone, and other building purposes, because it is to our real 
interests to conserve the trade, but when it is found that those cements are in all 
cases equal, and in many ca?es superior, to those produced outside the State and 
in foreign countries, there are further reasons in using them, and ere long there can 
be little doubt that the Alamo cements will be generally used as the clieapest and 
best in the market. 

Parties desiring further information on this subject should call on or address 
Mr. Geo. H. Kalteyer, of F. Kalteyer & Son , druggists, the manager of the com- 
pany, or Mr. Ben. Mauermann, the President. 



33 THE ALAJIO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER X. 

MINES IN WESTERN TEXAS. 

Frcxm various causes the rich mineral deposits in \7estern Texas have hitherto 
been neglected by the Aa,2:lo-Saxon race. The early Spanish explorers, however, 
knew of the valuable leads of silver, gold, lead, iron, etc., which abound in this 
reajion, and they worked mines here for a number of years until driven off by the 
Indians. The steady extension of the railroads in this section has of htte attracted 
special attention to these mines, and now the laud is being bought up and soon will 
be covered by a hardy set of miners who will add greatly to the wealth of the 
country. Tlils view is borne out by ancient documents of the early Spaniards, and 
which are now being brought to light. Mr. Lorenzo Castro, an old citizen of San 
Antonio, thus writes on this subject : 

But little is known of the great mineral wealth of Texas, which some day will 
be found to equal the rirhest of Mexico. Having lived in this great State f'lr over 
thirty-two years, my father, Henry Castro, having colonized that portion of Western 
Texas situated west of San Antonio, I will give you what little information 1 have 
gathered from tradition or otliervvise. 

Tlie archives of Coahuila and Texas have been so much purloined that nothing 
is found concernnig the minerals of Texas, either in San Antonio, Monterey, or 
Saltillo, but, no doubt, some interesting documents could still be found in the 
archives of the dty of ]\Iexico. In the last century silver mines were worked near 
Palafox, Webb Countv, on the Frio, in Uvalde County, and on various creeks in what 
is known to-day as Lfano and San Saba County. Gold was found in the Rio Grande, 
above Laredo. It is said to have been found on the San Miguel. It was found, 
also, in Llano and San Saba Counties. In the year 1757 several Spaniards worked 
the mines called El Espinaso de Judas and Los Almagres, situated in the hills of 
Llano and San Saba Counties. I saw in a report to tiie commanding officer at San 
Antonio, where one of the Spaniards, who had some of his men killed by the Lipan 
Indians, followed them with a detachment of soldiers stationed at San Saba Fort, as 
we call it, and overtook them near the mouths of San Saba and Colorado, killing 
some of them. It is not ki.own why these mines were abandoned, but it can readily 
be supposed that all the tribes of Indians having united in war against the Sp;tniards, 
owing to their small numbers they were forced to abandon them ; for in 1758 an 
important campaign against the wild Indians was organized at the Presidio de 
Bexar, under the command of Colonel Don Diego Ortiz de Padilla (whose report I 
have not been able to procure yet). 

In a report upon the situation of the Missions established in New Spain, made 
by the Viceroy, Count of Revilla-Gigedo, to the King of Spain, dated Mexico, 27th 
of December, 171)3, I find the following, viz. : 

"In Texas .... there are silver mines in the hills of this extensive 
country ; but more particularly in those known as del Espinaso de Judas (Judas' 
back bone) and los almagres (red ochre), distant, more or less, fifty leagues (131% 
American miles) north of the capital of the Province, which is the town of San 
Fernando (now San Antonio). 

" In the year 1822, Don Salvador Canasco, a resident of the town of Presidio 
del Rio Grande, denounced the mines called Los Almagres (the red ochre), which he 
describes in his petition as being situated in the territory of San Saba, in the 
Province of Texas, forty leagues, more or less, or a little over one hundred Amer- 
ican mile«, from San Antonio. Some persons residing in Bexar have brought 
specimens of the gold and silver ore, and have not devoted themselves to the working 
of these mines through fear of the Indians. 

"Upon the petition of citizen Canasco, an inquiry was ordered by Don 
Anastasio Bustamente, commanding Eastern and Western Internal Provinces, 
directed to Colonel Gaspar Lopez, commanding the Provinces of Coahuila 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 93 

and Texas, which resulted in the following interesting report, made to the 
Emperor Itur'oide by Captain Sebastian Rodriguez Biednia." [This report, with 
other interesting documents, was given by Mr. Rejers, Secretary of State of Neuvo 
Lpon, to T. A. Quintero, who translated it. The same was published in the Texas 
xUmanac of 1868.] 

" To His Imperial Majesty : 

"Sebastian Rodriguez Biedma, a captain in the regular army of the Eastern 
Internal Provinces, and Director of the Military Academy established at Montclova 
for the instruction of Spanish Cadets, with greal respect, states : 

'• That upon the San Saba Hills, course northwest from San Antonio de Bexar, 
and about forty five leagues from said town (one hundred and eighteen miles) there 
are mines of unsurpassing richness, known as Los Almagres, which, judging from 
their outward appearance, promise more wealth than that produced by any of the 
mostfamous of San Louis Potosi, Zacatecas, and Guanjuato. I do not hesitate to 
make this statement, being convinced of that fact by my own eyes, and, therefore, 
I do not doubt thai the information given on the subject, both by tiie Deputy of the 
Province and the Municipality, will correspond with the assertions made in this 
report. 

" Some other persons have seen the above-mentioned mines, and brought speci- 
mens of the ore, taken from veins on the surface, which have been tried and found 
to yield much silver. I believe that it will not be necess^ary to make any other 
expenses for the W)rking of said mines than those for the purchase of implements 
and utensils, and the erection of some cabins for the miners. I am satisfied that 
the immediate yield of these mines will be more than sufficient to defray the 
expenses of the work. 

" I heard of the richness of these mines since I was stationed at Corpus Christi. 
I afterwards saw some specimens at San Antonio de Bexar, and I analyzed them 
with the best results. I was then in active service, with no influence to promote 
the undertaking; and, of course, did not take any steps in the matter; hut having 
recently, under the accompanying commission (which I desire to be returned to 
me), proceeded to the San Saba Hills to make the reces.sary exploration, I have 
to report, not only that said mines exist, but that I believe them to be of great 
richness. 

" Therefore your Imperial Majesty may order that a detachment of three hun- 
dred and fitly cavalry be stationed at the place called Los Almagres, with the object 
of protecting the new settlement to be made. As soon as this is ordered, many of 
the inhabitants cf the Province will congregate and build up a town. However 
great tlie cares of the government may be under the present circumstances, the small 
number of tiiree hundred and fifty men will not much diminish tlie forces of the 
Empire nor increase its expenses. The latter are comparatively small if we con- 
sider the great advantages to be derived from the settlement of Los Almagres, which 
will undoubtedly be followed by the subjugation of the Indians, the increase of our 
population, and the circulation of silver. 

" The undersigned dors not aspire to any other glory than the one he will gain 
by seeing his plans canied out. 

" Monclova, January 23, 1823. 

"(Signed) Sebastian Rodriguez." 

Owing to the abdication of the Emperor Iturbide, which took place March 19, 
1823, Captain Bi'^dma's plan was not carried out. Count de La Beaume, who then 
resided in San Antonio, visited the mines, and sent some specimens to the City of 
Mexico. It is said that a specimen of gold from the Almagre mines was presented 
to Baron Von Humboldt while in the City of Mexico, and that he declared the 
same to be the finest he had ever seen. 

I bave heard it stated that Colonel Bowie (the same who fell gloriously with the 
defenders of tlie Alamo in 183G) had in his possession all the documents concerning 
these mines, and that they were probably lost in the Alamo. 

Colonel Bowie, in company with twelve others, some time previous to the 
declaration of independence of Texas (1835), started to explore the San Saba mines, 
but, while encamped near them, the party was attacked by one hundred and twenty 
Toacoway Indians. They retreated to the banks of the San Saba River, where they 



94 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

entrenched themselves, standing a siege of several days and killing many Indians, 
and having only one of their purty wounded. Bowie's party, not heiug in sufficient 
force, gave up, for the time, the idea of exploring said mines, returned to San An- 
tonio, and dispersed. 

Some years ago, an old Mexican, who had accompanied Captain Biedraa on his 
exploration of the San Saba mines as a blacksmith's boy, was still living in San 
Antonio, and may, although very old, be still living 

A French company, of whom our esteemed fellow-townsman (now deceased), 
Mr. Francis Giraud, was to b ; the chief engineer, was about to be organized by Mr. 
De St. Pyre, French Consul at Galveston, for the purpose of discovering and vvork- 
iug of said mines, but the rebellion having broken out, the projected company fell 
through. 

Although many intelligent Americans and Germans have explored Llano and 
San Saba, they have not yet discovered these mines — at least, the lead. It may be 
tbai the San Saba mines are of the kind that the Mexicans call liziard or pocket 
mines. 

From what has been said above, it can be seen that the Spaniards considered 
the San Saba region as the richest mineral district of Texas in gold and silver, and 
much of the rei)orts made by experts of this portion of the great State of Texas go 
to prove the fact. 

1 have not yet been able to learn when what is called the San Saba Fort was 
built, no more than the Mission, as they are called by us Texans, on the Nueces, 
where many shafts were opened, but I hope to solve that mystery some day. 

Iron. — In Llano County there is an iron hill, almost a solid mass of magnetic 
oxide of iron, surrounded by azoic granite. During the war of the rebellion some 
of this ore was smelted. It yielded seventy-five per cent, of metallic iron, and it is 
said there is enough ore to supply the United States for ages, according to Professor 
Buckley. 

Professor Roesseler says in regard to iron that the most valuable class of ores 
are met in the primary or paleozuic formation, extending through the counties of 
Burnet Llano, San Saba, Lampasas, Mason, Mci'ulloch, and other western counties. 
They consist of four varieties of ore, viz. : magnetic, spathic, specular, and hema- 
tite ores. Large beds of red and brown hematite ore are cropping out on the waters 
of Honey and Sandy Creeks, and near the mouths of Stroud and Walton Creeks in 
Llano County. 

Iron has been found in over sixty counties in this State. 

Copper is found in Archer County. The ore is remarkably rich. According 
to an analysis made in 1867 it yields sixty per cent, of copper. 

Professor Roesseler says that copper is found in large quantities, in different 
forms, in Texas, and he say>;; '' There is yet another copper region of importance 
in the Chinaii Mountain, Presidio County. A specimen collected by Mr. John 
James, of San Antonio, and analyzed by D. Biddle, gave the following "-esult: 

Copper as sulphuret 39 0186 

Copper as carbonate 5 0;{8") 

Sulphuret of iron , 15-4999 

Silicious matter 16-891i) 

Sulphur 19-804D 

Carbonic acid and oxygen 3"333S 

100 

A sulphuret of copper, containing n5 44, has been found in Hunt County. 

Copper is found in Wichita, Clay, Haskell, territory of Bexar (that is, most of 
the unorganized counties lying north and northwest of San Antonio), and Pecos 
and Presidio Counties. 

Silver and Lead. — The calciferous sand roik. which is the lead-bearing rock 
of Missouri, abounds in Burnet, San Saba, and Llano Counties. 

Load and silver are found combined together in T( xas, and are known to exist 
in El Paso, Presidio, Bandera, and Llano Counties. Of the former three varieties 
have been brought to notice: the carbonate of lead, or c. rusite, the sulphuret of lead, 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 95 

or galenite, and the raolybdate of lead, or Wulfenite. The former two coniain 
silver in such quantity as to l)e cousidered silver ores. 

Arijenliferous and ferrug-inous cerumite is fouud in the Chinati and Guadalupe 
Mountains. The ore is free and mannite, and is found in separate veins, affording 
over seventy per cent, of lead and some silver. From it the white lead of commerce 
is manufactured. 

About fifteen miles North of El Paso and ten miles north of a mine known as 
the Padre silver mine, are numerous veins of argentiferous galena, appearing to be 
very rich in lead and silver. 

Gold has bi-en found in small quantities in Burnet, Llano, and Mason Counties 
in the sands of some few streams in the granite region- more successfully on Pack- 
saddle Mountain, in Llano County. 

In Texas, in many instances, gold was found in grains and scales through quartz, 
and occasionally, in ferruginous matter. 

Bismuth is .';aid to have been found associated with copper in the copper region 
of Northern Texas. It is native bismuth, and occurs in massive layers, principally 
in' Wichita and Archer Counties. It is native bismuth, associated with smaltine 
(white cobalt), and deserves a special notice as a metal of rare occurrence. 

Bismuth is exceedingly useful as an alloy. Saxony produces nearly all that is 
consumed in Europe, which amounts annually to about ten thousand pounds. 

It is said to exist in large quantity in Presidio County 

Antlmoky has been found in the northeast corner of Llano County, and on 
Miller's Creek, in Mason County. Antimony is of great usa for medicinal purposes. 
It IS found in other metals. There is also native antimony, but the only one which 
is worked as a mineral is the sulphur. It is composed of two atoms of antimony 
and three of sulphur. In weight, it contains twent3'-six parts of sulphur and 
seventy four of antimony. France and Spain are the countries that up to this day 
have produced most of the antimony used. It is principally used as an alloy with 
lead lor the mauufaclure of printing type. 

Coal. — In Northern Texas bituminous coalfields are found in Young and 
adjacent counties. 

Immense coal beds are found in Maverick County, and running in a southeastern 
direction, through Dimmitt, Zavulla, Uvalde, Frio, Atascosa, Presidio, and Bexar. 
They are so extensive and rich that they will suffice for all the wants of this country 
for ages to come. But coal is also found in Jack, Erath, Palo Pinto, Eastland, 
Coleman, Callahan, and Comanche, and the northwest corner of San Saba County. 

Specimens of anthracite coal have been found all over the State. 

The coals of more recent origin make their appearance on the Rio Grande, in 
Hill, Atascosa, and Frio, running in an uninterrupted belt to the northeast corner of 
Boner County. 

Specimens of superior tertiary coal, resembling a variety of coal known as 
cannel, is fouud in Noble County, near Palafox. 

Asphaltum has been found in Hardin, Travis, Burnet, Llano, and other Red 
River Counties. 

Gypsum is found in large deposits in the northwest portion of the State, principally 
on Red River. 

Salt is found in Northern and Northwestern Texas. It is known to exist in 
El Paso County. Near the Horsehead Crossing of the Pecos are large deposits of 
salt. It has been found extensively at Snenson Saline, iu the western part of 
Lampasas County, and in small quantities in Llano County. But the best and most 
curious Saline of Texas is j>ituated in Hidalgo County. Mr. Henry Castro was 
granted a colony extending from this great salt lake to a point on the Rio Grande 
gpposite Camargo, and up the Rio Grande to a Point called D. 'lores, but owing to 
the iiresence of General Urrea. with a large Mexican force, at Mier, he was unable 
to colonize the g'-ant. A description of the celebrated salt lake will be interesting 
to your readers: Sal del Rey, or Great Salt Lake, in Hidalgo County, as described 
by Hon. T. S. Thompson : This celebrated palt lake is situated forty miles due 
north of Edinburgh and eighty-eight miles from Brownsville. It is about one mile 
iu diameter, and nearly round. On all sides it is completely hemmed in by land 



96 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

considerably higher than the j^eneral surroundiug country, and can, therefore, have 
no CKmmuoicatioa at the surface with any other water. It is rarely ever known to 
have been dry. The bottom of the lake consists of solid crystallized salt, in layers 
of some twelve inches thick, with a liltie thin deposit of earth between the layers. 
To what depth the layers extend is not known, as the bottom has never been 
reached. When a train of Mexican carts have been filled by digi^ing up thin layers 
witli picks and crowbars, the excavation made is immediately filled with the bait 
water on the surface, and the salt is then so rapidly formed and precij^itated to the 
bottom that the excavation is filled again in a day or two, leaving no appearance of 
any salt havinj; been taken out. It is sent for from great distances in Mexico, the 
trains ol cartd being constantly coming and going This salt is entirely different 
from ail the salt in our lagoons along the coast, where it is formed by solar evapo- 
ration ; whde here its formation is liy precipitation, in consequence of the water 
being surcharged with more than it can hold in solution. So strongly is the water 
impregnated with fha salt that the human body can not be made to sink in it, but 
floats on tho surface like a cork on the surface of (he water. 

It is believed that this lake is on a bed of mmeral salt, as there seems no o her 
way of accounting for the formation. 

There is another salt lake called Sal Viejo (old Sidt Lake), twelve miles distant 
to the East. Thh is much smaller, and the salt is all dissolved by heavy rains, and 
is again formed ii» dry weather by evaporation, as in the lagoons. 

Guano, there i'? no doubt, is to be found in large quantity in the mountains of 
Northern and Western Texas. The following caves are known, and have been 
visited : 

1. On (he Cibolo, in Bexar County, twenty-one miles from San Antonio (the 
MierCave), supposed to contain 2,000 tons. 

2. New Braunfels, Comal County. Th:re are three small caves in the vicinity 
of said town, that can be estimated to contain 150 tons. 

3. A cave on the Yord Creek, in Medina County, fifteen miles from New 
Fountain ; about 1,500 tons. 

4. Two caves, sixteen miles from Uvalde, and two miles from the old silver 
mines in Uvalde County ; about 4,000 tons. 

Guano caves have been found in Burnet County. 

Petroleum has been found in Texas, but not in paying quantity ; still there is 
hope that it will yet be found. 

Pearl Oysters have been found in several streams in Texas, but more parti- 
cularly in the Llano River. 

The above report, by Mr. Ca.sfro, was written several years ago, and recent 
explorations have brought to light manj' rich mineral veins not hmted at in Mr. 
Castro's article. The Chinati is especially rich, and recent explorations have 
developed such rich results that (he owners of the laud (there is no mining law in 
Texas) are holding back information on the subject. The present extension of the 
Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, which cDmpany owns a large 
amount of valuable mining land, west to the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, 
passes almost through the richest mineral belt^of the State, and the completion of 
this railroad must o|)en up what experienced assayers and prospectors pronounce 
the most valuable mines on the American continent. 

The limits of this book, however, will not permit a description of these mines 
and leads as developed to date, but to all those interested in this subject we advise 
a correspondence with A. W. Gifford Esq., of San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Gifford 
has travelled all through the mines and mineral districts of Northern Mexico and 
Western Tex",s many times, on the b;ick of a pack mule, during the past six years, 
and has collected a vast fund of information on this subject. Moreover he is a 
practical man and has gathered a large number of mineral specimens frrjm every 
locality visited and has assayed them in his own office in San Antonio. He is also 
a newspaper writer with long experience, and is the editor of the lexas Sun. 
In the Texas Press Association he holds the office of Treasurer, as well as being the 
Secretary of The Anglo Texas-Mexican Mining and Smelting Company. We will 
also add what would be unnecessary to say if this book was intended only for Texas 
distribution, that Mr. Gifford is a temperance man, thoroughly honest and reliable 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 97 

in all of his dealings and statements, and is live, energetic, and thoroughly posted 
in regard to his specialty, -which is Texas and Mexican mines. It will be seen by 
the above that he combines all the elements needed in an adviser of investors in 
mining property in this section of the country, 

TEE ANGLO-TEXAS-MEXICAN MINING AND SMELTING COMPANY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. 

Capital : Paid up non-assessible stock, $250,000. 

A., C. Schryver, of San Antonio, President ; A. W. Gilford, of San Antonio, 
Spcretary ; J. C. Stafford, of Houston, Treasurer ; W. A. Taylor, of Waco, Vice- 
Presiflent. 

Board of Directors. — A. C. Schryver, A. W. Gifford, Lorenzo Castro, W. A. 
Taylor, J. C. Stafford. 

Smelting Works established at Vilalldaina, State of Neuvo Leon, old Mexico ; 
under management of J. F. Trapp, as General Superintendent. 

The above company is one of the most substantial and enterprizing now oper- 
ating in the Republic of Mexico, and their prospects for a big bonanza are very 
flattering. Their mining properties, tributary to the Mexican National Railway, 
now completed to the smelting works, are the richest mines in the district, having 
been worked for nearly two hundred years by the Spaniards and Indians, producing 
hundreds of thousands of dollars in silver and lead bullion, annually, and comprise 
the following mines to which they hold title from tLie Mexican Government : " Chi- 
huahua," "Farandula," ''Coayache," and "Morena." In addii ion to which the 
Company hold valuable land and water privileges, also leased mining claims, 
which tbey will develop. 

This enterprise was originated and organized by Mr. A. "W. Gifford, one of San 
Antonio's most enterprising newspaper men, who has devoted most of his time for 
the past six years to prosi)ecting and writing up our Texas and Mexican frontiers, 
and is certainly one of the best posted now in the Southwest as to the advantages 
of our frontier and its inducements for the investment of capital. 

The company is a close corporation, with latest improved machinery on the 
ground for handling fifty tons of ore per day, with abundance of capital for devel- 
oping purposes, and no stock on the market. 

The gentlemen comprising the company are among our prominent citizens and 
leading business men of Texas, and, undoubtedly, will make a grand success of their 
enterprise. 



98 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER XI. 
AGRICULTURE, FRUIT GROWING, ETC. 

The agricultural facilities of Texas, and particularly of Western Texas, have as 
yet been but partially developed. C. G. Napier, Esq., long a resident of this section 
of the country, and now the agricultural correspondent of the San Antonio Daily 
Express, over the nom deplume of " Greeley No, ^," thus writes on this subject in an 
article prepared for the Texas Sun several years ago: 

Editors Texas Sun: I concluded to ijive a few facts, why I think Texas the 
equal of any, if not the best State in the Union for new comers or immigrants. In 
the first place I will tackle the great State of New York, and compare her with 
Texas. 

I spent about two years in the State of New York, when I was but a boy. One 
of those years I went to school, in Onondaga County, on the Erie canal, eight miles 
east of Syracuse. 1 boarded with an old man, Frederick Pratt, just one mile from 
Lafayette, the county seat. Old man Pratt was considered one of the best and largest 
farmers in his neighborhood. His main crop was wheat (this was the first time I 
ever saw a three-horse threshing machine). But they raised potatoes, beans, corn, 
oats, buckwheat, apples, clover, and tiraothJ^ Their stock is valuable, from which 
they have good milk, butter, and cheese. 

Lands. — Their lands are inferior to ours in soil, and much more liable to wash, 
and require constant feedhig, or manuring, to keep their regular crops up. Their 
lands are worth, I suppose, now, at least fifty dollars per acre. They have but 
six months in the year to work. Their stock has to be well sheltered, fed, and 
at times blanketed. This of itself is u terrible drain on their crops. Say fifty per 
cent, is required to run them until the next crop is made. 

Climate. — Their climate is much colder in winter, ground being frozen from 
November until April, requiring much warmer and more expensive clothing to stitnd 
the winter. The summers are more oppressive, and many more cases of sunstroke 
occur than with us. Their nights are hot, sultry, and opprest,ive, so that sleep is 
not refreshing. A man rises in the morning feeling heavy and dull, and not much 
like work, and when he does get to "vork, the sun is so oppressive he stops at eleven 
or half-past, and tries to rest at noon by a little nap; this he cannot enjoy, for the 
want of a breeze and excessive heat. At 2 P.M. he tries to work again, but with 
little satisfaction. 

So, were it not for that long, cold winter to brace up the system, they could not 
stand their short but terrible summers. No wonder labor is scarce at harvest time, 
and wages high — from $3 to $3.50 per day. But wiih all their climatic and other 
difficulties, they are a great, energetic, and progressive people, very fond of fine 
farms, comfortable houses, and fine stock. I rather liked tliem I was fond of 
skating and sleiifh riding. I loved their buckwheat cakes and mince pies. 'Twas 
there I had my first sweetheart. A great people. I wish they had less prejudice, 
and could believe that we are as good and law abiding citizens as any I ever knew. 

Poor Texas has to suffer in reputation for the bad conduct of tramps and adven- 
turers of other States. I do say for the native or old Texans, that they are not 
excelled for hospitality or kindness to strangers. It does seem to me that our rail- 
roads have had .'-ufficient time to correct the false impressions those people entertain 
towards the South. I once tried to persuade some peopln to come with me to Texas 
from Chicago. They seriously looked in my face and asked me how long I thought 
their heads would be on their shoulders if they did come. No arguments could 
induce them to risk themselves in our country. But time is not far distant when our 
railroads will disabuse them of their prejudices. There has been already enough 
good citizens from the North to refute these slanders. I say it to the credit of Gen- 
eral Grant that on his returnNorth he had the moral courage to do the South justice, 
and for which I think he suffered politically. 



V THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 99 

Texas. — I have always been surprised, and never have been able to account for 
so few immigrants of our own people from the North coming here, and settling with 
us. A country that you can work all the year round, where stock of all discriptions 
can live the year through on nature's pasturage ; wliere all ihe crops that the North 
can raise, with the addition of twice as many more thafthey cannot raise at the 
North, are raised here in Texas. This, in a pecuniary view, is, of itself, a con vine 
ing argument ; but, in additiovi to this, our mild, healthy, and pleasant climate, I do 
not know what to make of so few coming. Is it because our country is no^ known ? 
Is it still believed that Texas is a cut-throat hole, and that there is no security for 
life and property ? Our criminal statistics will disprove this ; is there a country 
■where the laws are better enforced than in Bexar County ? Is there a city in the 
Union that is more peaceable — municipal laws better enforced — than here ? I think 
not. Our population is principally Germans. It is well known that they are a 
peaceable, industrious, and quiet people — a music loving people. Who ever heard 
of music and crime going together ? Again, our country is free from the casualties 
attending the crops that are so common lo States north of us, such as cyclones, hail 
storms, chinch bugs, droughts, etc. It is true, we sometimes have partial droughts, 
but it has|boen proven that corn will mature here in ninety days' time, and, by 
breaking up the land in the fall, and planting in the first or middle of February 
there ni'cd be no failure ; and by diversifying crops and putting in fruits, strawber- 
ries, blackberries, sweet and Irish potatoes, artichokes, with millet, with the late 
Egyptian grass, there can be no failure of raising a paying crop. "We need a few 
more Yankees with us to give us lessons in farming. 

Lands.- Good A. No. 1 farming lands can be had within twenty miles of San 
Antonio for five dollars per acre, that will produce almost anything that grows in 
this latitude — lands whose soil is from three to five feet deep, and not given to 
wash, and will last for a lifetime without manuring. I prefer the rich, dark, sandy 
loam tliat will make a bale of cotton to the acre. If a man wants to make a fortune 
from fruit, Bexar County is the place to come to. I do not know of three thousand 
peach trees in this country, yet good peaches are worth, in this market, two dollars 
per bushel. Figs natural growth ; black Spanish cluster grapes a sure and valuable 
crop ; sugar cane on the Rio Grande unequalled in the United States.* Any good 
planter can muke his hundred dollars per annum per acre, and needs no replant- 
ing for three years. 

As for wheat, our Nicaragua wheat will average thirty-five bushels to the acre, 
and this after grazing on the whole winter. We need a mill to grind this whe.it, the 
earliest and best shipping wheat known. Our El Paso onions, the best in the United 
States, will make three hundred bushels to the acre, worth in market to-day ten 
cents per pound, retail. It will pay well to raise chickens at twenty five cents each, 
and eggs at fifteen cents per dozen. What an opening for an orchardist ! 

Labor. — Best, cheapest in the country. I have tried most all sorts except 
Chinese, Turks, and these outlandish fellows. I like our old darkies best because 
I have been raised with them; but I must say that the Mexican is the most faithful 
and reliable of any I know, and then it is cheap — fifty cents per day. Labor is the 
representative of money. It is with us plentiful and cheap. I see, nearly every 
day, one of our best, healthiest, and hardiest looking men, who came here to die 
with tlie consumption. He looks like a Dutchman. One of my neighbors came 
here a consumptive. He is now fat, and says he can't live anywhere except in 
Texas. 

Now, Mr. Editor. I must leave it to you to make known the advantages of our 
State. As we are neither of us land speculators, they cannot accuse us of making 
false representations to sell a little land. If I have here written anything that is not 
strictly true I do not know it. If I have written anything to encourage and benefit 
my own people I am pleased. If I have written anything to cause one man lo better 
his condition, either physically or financially, I shall be happy. Wishing you suc- 
cess in behalf of your efforts to increase immigration, for the good of all parties, 
and requesting all doubting ones to come and see for themselves. I stop. 

Yours, Greeley, No 3. 

Since the above article was written, there has been a great change in the agri- 
cultural development of Texas. Lands, and indeed whole sections of country, large 



100 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE 

enough to make any two of the New Eni^land States, that was formerly tliouirht 
unfit for any use escept for grazing land, aio now converted into vast fields of excel- 
lent grain, the yield in every instance wliere proper cultivation has been given being 
astonishing to visitors frora other sections ot the country. 

FRUITS AUn FLOWERS. 

The following brief notes are condensed from an article written for this work, 
by Mr. L. W. Madarasz, a local floiist and fruit culluiist, and are the results of bis 
personal experience. It must, however, be remembered, that his experiments have 
been contincd to the immediate vicinity of tbis city, and fruits and flowers which 
he has had poor success within this city, grow almost without care or protection 
a few miles north or south of the city. Indeed in this State, which is of such vast 
dimensions, as to be difficuk to conceive of by residents in the smaller States of the 
north, there is a great difference in tlie climate, and soil of different sections, so 
that there is hardly a fruit or flower yet discovered which will not thrive in the 
open air without protection during the entire year in some section of the State. 
He says : 

" With us the science of horticulture dates with the advent of our first rail- 
road, but the rapid strides that have been made during the past four years is ample 
proof of the elevated and refined taste of our people, and especially is this noticable 
among our German citizens. 

"Our climate being of a tropical nature as to heat, and with an abundance of cold 
weather to check vegetation for a short time, is thus richer in flora than that of 
colder or warmer climes, and where the least judgment is exercised in planting out 
trees, shrubs or flowers, not native to our climate and soil, the result will in most 
ca.ses be satisfactorv; so before plantin<r out anything, a.scertain first of all its native 
home, and the peculiarity of the position where it is found in perfection, and then 
select your place and plant with care, nursing it for at least one seasoii. 

"To take up the useful before the ornamental let us see what can be had in the 
■way of fruit. Peachis and plums grow to perfection, and the truit is both large 
and highly 'flavored. Wild plums grow abundantly all over Western Texas. Pears 
and apples, especially the early varieties, will w. 11 repay the cost and time devoted 
to their cultivation ; quinces grow and bear profusely ; figs of every variety have 
found in our soil and climate all the element of their nativity and grow wherever 
planted and yield abundantly. For grapes our immediate soil is well adapted, and 
the wild mustang grape line our wafer courses, and can be grafted with other 
varietie.'' ; such rank growers as the Black Spanish, Agawam, etc., also grow and 
bear profusely, and in favored localities the Catawbas and Concords are doing well. 
Never attempt to raise f^herries, for the tree will not live two years, much less bear 
fruit. Apricots grow luxuriantly." 

Note by Author. — Small Fruits have as yet been comparatively neglected by 
those cultivating on a large scale, except in the case of blackberries, which also 
grow wild along the water courses. Strawberries have in every insianc3 well repaid 
proper care and attention, and we believe that they would pay a very large proflt 
if planted on a large scale on land specially suited to them, and which can be bought 
hare at from $2 to $10 per acre witnin a short distance from this city. _ Raspberries 
also srrow very luxuriantly here wherever they receive proper cultivation. Indeed 
we know of no small fruit which will not yield the experienced culturist a very 
large profit. It must also be remembered that our seasons are much earlier (that 
is the spring and summer) than in the latitude of St. Louis, and therefore thtre will 
be a large profit in raisin^: early fruit for the northern market. In the case of melons 
of all kinds, this section of Texas is peculiarly adapted to their cultivation, and the 
fruit is pronounced by judges to be the finest raised in any section of America. 
Watermelons, weighing from fifty to seventy five pounds each, are abundant in the 
San Antonio market during June, July, August, and September. These have an 
immense yield, and the same is true of the various varieties of cantaloups, musk- 
melons, etc. If an organized effort was made by a colony of fruitgrowers in this 
vicinity, there would be no difficulty in gettinff our two railroads to put on fast 
fruit-trains for the transportation of fruit to northein markets, and our early season 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 101 

would cause tlie growers to reap much larger profits from their crops than can be 
realized l)y growers in other parts of the country. 

" Passing to the subject of shade-trees, we have a number of varieties that can- 
not be surpassed in any country. For a rapid-growing and dense shade-tree, select 
the umbrella, china, or mulberry (fruit), and always avoid the paper mulberry, as 
it sprouts, and in a few years takes complete possession of the immediate premises. 
The hackberry, so far, has been the favorite tree for the street, but no tree can 
be compared with our native elm; it grows as readily, keeping a better form and 
shape, and gives a denser shade. For ornamental trees, the Lombardy and silver 
poplars, sycamore, cottonwood, pecan, live-oak, Spanish oak, and catalpa answer 
well, and will grow quite readily when properly transplanted. For lawn or grass- 
plots, the wesache, rataraa, and mesquite are best suited, as the shade is not of such 
density as to prevent the gi'ass from growing. But no one, we believe, has ever 
been successful in transplanting the mesquite; it, however, grows wild all over the 
country hereabouts. 

" Of ornamenial and flowering-shrubs we have a large variety to select from. 
Arboriteas, biotas, retinisporas, and the like, will succeed well in a well-drained 
spot, and after once having taken hold in the soil, care should be taken not to over- 
water. Magnolias and jasmines must be planted at or near the water-edge, or in a 
cool, damp place; the latter will bear shade, and bloom profusely the whole sum- 
mer; and bananas, cannas, caladiums, and ferns, when seen growing, carry you 
and your thoughts to the tropics. 

"For walk or ornamei tal hedging, the pomegranate, osage orange, and Califor- 
nia privet — the latter are evergreen — will bear the shears, and become very dense; 
aud it will not be many years before the fences around our fine city residences will 
be superseded by hedges of one or the other of the above plants. 

" As to roses — especially the ever-blooming and running varieties — it is only 
necessary to see them grow and bloom to be convinced that no country is better 
adapted to their culture. Every known variety will thrive here during the entire 
year. Of the flowering shrubs and vines that thrive well may be mentioned the 
pomegranate, althea, cape-myrtle, syringa, bigonia, honeysuckle, and wisteria; 
and for covering stone walls,especially such as are unsightly, the English ivy is per- 
fection itself. 

"Now, let us see what can be had in tlie shape of annual and bedding plants: 
First of all are the innumerable varieties of coieus; the colors of the foliage is so 
diverse that the most " ajstnetic " in colors can be suited; and the crotons (South 
Sea Island trees) are even better suited to our hot and dry summers, for the hotter 
the weather the more brilliant will be the colors in the foliage, and in nearly 
all varieties can be seen the various hues of the rainbow. 

" For ribbon bordering the altcrnanthera, with achyranthus at corners, cannot 
be surpassed. Then the sweet flowering heliotropes will always prove faithful, and 
every garden should be well supplied with such bedders as the oleander, plumbago, 
tender jasmines, violets, pansies, gladiolus, tuberoses, and dahlias. Any of 
the above plants can be had of your home florist for much less than they could 
be raised by individuals not prepared to propagate plants. 

"To the above, which are all admirable pot plants, can be added nearly all 
plants known to florists, especially palms, ferns, begonias, fancy caladiums, 
gloxinias, tabernamontanas, fuchsias, justicias, clerodendrons, thunbergias, alaman- 
das, geraniums, flowering and sweet-scented salvias, sausevieras, cereus, epiphyl- 
lum carnations, poinsettas, and many others. And now, to close the subject, 
always, when possible, get your plants, whether for out-doors or pots, from .your home 
dealer, for then you are certain of getting a healthy, acclimated plant, in a good 
growing condition; you may have lo pay a trifle more, but fully fifty per cent, will 
be saved financially, and you will be saved the worry of nursing them for six or 
eight months, as m the case of many imported plants." 

One point which always attracts the attention and praise of visitors to Sau 
Antonio is the profusion of "flowers about the residences of our citizens. Unlike the 
cities of the North, flowers are not confined to the gardens of the wealthy few, but 
abound in every garden plot. The day laborer, returning to his humble home, 
sees a wealth of what would be rare flowers in the North, about his front gallery. 



10"2 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

All can have flowers here whicb would be beyond the means of the working classes 
of the North. There are but few native trees in this section of Texas that do not 
bear flowers, and our prairies are vast flower gardens of beauty and bloom in the 
spring months. Here the verbena grows wild on our prairies, making beds of solid 
bloom at times miles in extent. The wild flowers of Texas are also celebrated for 
their wondrous beauty of form and color. In all the rich and v,.ried varieties of 
cacti Texas is especially rich. The far-famed night-blooming cereus grows wila 
here, and it as well as other varieties of cacti will bear transplanting and culture. 
Some of the varieties of cacti have rare medicinal qualities, and fortunes may be 
made by utilizing them. 

This is but a mere outline of the subject treated, and those who wish to know 
more about our varied natural advantages and products sliould come to San Antonio 
during the early part of February and remain until the middle of May. Ttils will 
relieve them from tlie terrible weather of the North during those months and will 
give them an experience which they will always rf-member with pleasure. The spring 
months in Texas are balmy and delightful, especially so in the section of the country 
about San Antonio, while our prairies during these months are vast beds of beauty 
and bloom ever changing and extending to the limits of human vision. The air is 
then heavy with the perfume of beautiful flowers, and the constant music of the 
many rare and beautiful song birds which abound here adds the remaining element 
needed for extatic enjoyment. 

TEXAS WINE. 

As has been stated before. Western Texas is the natural home of the, grape. 
The wild mustang grape which grows in great profusion along the various water 
courses of Western Texas, its vines running into nearly every tree and forming 
natural grape arbors, which, in the early part of July, are covered and lined with 
luscious fruit, makes a very superior wine, which is now manufactured by Mr. C. 
G. Artzt, a long resident of this city, and whose office is on the corner of JVIarket 
and Yturri Street^J, under the Texas Express Company. Mr. Artzt now makes a 
claret from the native grape, which is not only pronounced superior to any of the 
imported clarets, but which has the recommendations of every physician practising 
in this city. As a tonic for invalids and aged persons it is very beneficial, and at the 
same time its flavor is delicious. As a summer drink we know of no wine which 
can compare with it, it being very strengthening, and, at the same time, not intoxi- 
cating. During the grape season, which commences early in July, these grapes are 
gathered by the wagon load and taken to the Artzt wine factory, where the juice is 
immediately pressed out and thi manufacture of the various classes of wine is begun. 
Mr. Artzt can furbish wine of any desired age, and in qu inlity as ordered, and this 
industry thus begun bids fair to become one of great importance to this city, pro- 
vided the next Texas Legislature has sense enough to repeal the present restrictive 
tax placed on the manufacture of Texas wine by the last Legislature. 

The people of Texas, as a rule, are alive and progressive, and with more than 
ordinary liljerality towards those coming here to enter into manufacturing enter- 
prises of all kinds, but the last legislature of this State proved itself a congregation 
of stupid fellows in more ways than one, and in none more than in its " Spirituous 
Liquor and Vinous Law," which imposed a restrictive tax on the manufacture of 
wine from our native grape. Mr. Artzt is, however, progressing with his enterprise; 
he has a large amount invested in ths business, and having already successfully 
introduced his wines into the English and German markets, as well jis doin^ a good 
trade with northern American cities, he cannot afford to wuoUy ab.mdon his work. 
Visitors should cad at his oflice, corner of Market and Yiurri Streets, under the 
Texas Express Company, where samples of his wmes will be found and orders 
taken. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



103 



CHAPTER XII. 
SPECIAL FACILITIES. 



As has been already shown, San Antonio possesses natural advantages of a very 
hiffh order, includin- a climate second to none on the face of the globe and far supe- 
rior to many of the so called health resorts of America and Europe (bee Chapter 
VI ) But the city is not devoid of those modern conveniences and facilities tor 
business and c-.mf.irt which are common in the large cities of the North, and a few 
of these we will now noiic; brietiy. We have already mentioned our railroad and 
business facilities under tbeir respective hesds (see Chapteis IV., V., ViL, Vlii., 
and IX of this book); but in addition to them we give tiie following as a guide .0 
visitors and those seeking information regarding our thriving hitle city ot the 
plains. 

THE STREET RAILWAY. 

The street railway now extends from the United States Quartermaster's depot and 
the Miiitarv Headquarters, in the northeastern suburbs of the city across tbe city, 

hrough th?Main and Military Plazas to th. 1. & G. N. ^f^'^'^^^y depot m he west- 
em suburbs, and also from the Sau Pedro Park in the northern suburbs to the south- 
em suburbs Thispublicimprov.Mn.ntisduetotheenergyandbusinessmanagement 
of Colonel Aug. Belknap, ihi president of the Street Railroad Company The line 
pavs and its bonds comnmnd a large premium, with none on the market. The rolling 
stock is we 1 kept and the line has the name of being the best managed of any similar 
Hne in Americ^ It is tbe intention of the company to extend the track to every 

ectiont the city as fast as the demands of the public require it. The cars began 
mnnino- on July 4, 1878, and the records of tbe company show a seady increase 
S travd each yea^ since it first began operations. At the present writing there are 
abomnine miles of track laid, whiSh will be constantly increased to meet the grow- 
ing demand. 



TELEGRAPHS. 



The tele'^raph line was brought to this city by the United States Military Tele- 
crraph Corps in 1865, and was soon after turned over to the South western Telegraph 
Companv of which Dr. Norvin Green, now president of the Westem Union Tele- 
graph Company, was president, and John Van Home, general superintendent 
The WesS Un on Tekgrapb Company now owns this line, with its additions and 
extensions This city had but one wire running to Austin, thence to Houston, 
uut'ri877,'when the Sunset Railroad (the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio 
Rat way) reached here and brought up another wire, but this latter was exclusively 
S for railway purposes except when the old commercial line was down. It then 
Sok from one 'o?hrre days to get a reply from .^f^York, owing to frequent^ 
motions of the wires. Rates were then very high, being $6.oU to New \ork, and 
tio to Sin Francisco $4 to New Orleans, $3 to Galveston, and no half rate or night 
melsa^s «ates have gradually been redJced since then until they now are $1.50 
^ New York and all East.m cities, and seventy-five cents to New Orleans. 

Our present wire facilities have materially increased m the past few months 
and there now are two commercial throu-h lines to Galveston, besides lines on the 
Interna ional and Great Northern Railway to Palestine. North, and to Laredo, 
S A new commercial wire is being constructed to meet the growing demands 
of businets on the completed section of the Sunset or Galveston. Harrisburg and 
San Antonio Railroad extension west to El Paso. 

T?e United States Government telegraph lines converge ^7™ f//' «°^^^[« 
leading to Brownsville, connecting all military posts on the frontier of the Rio 
Sandl, and another leading Northio Concho where it divides one section gomg 
to Denison, and another to Fort Davis, and thence to Fort Bliss, El Paso, etc. 

Telegrams are now promptly handled and not unfrequently replies are received 



104 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

from New York in two hours, and from Europe the same date as sent. The local 
office is under the efficient management of Mr. N. J. Petrich, a position which he 
has creditably filled for a series of years. 

THE TELEPHOKE. 

The first telephone line in this city was the private line connecting the oflBce of 
the Waterworks Company in this city with the pump-house at the head of the 
river, which line was built in 1878. This was followed by a private line connecting 
the Brackenridge Villa at the head of the river with the San Antonio National Bank. 
Several transfer firms then put up private lines connecting their offices with the 
Sunset Railroad Freight Depot. Messrs. Berg & Bro. also erected a private line con- 
necting their office in this city with the Mission Mills, about seven miles distant, 

THE SAN AJSTTONIO TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. 

This institution was inaugurated on the 17th day of June, 1881. It is a part of 
the Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company, incorporated under the laws 
of Arkansas, with the exclusive privilege of the two States of Texas and 
Arkansas, of doing business under the patents of the American Bell Telephone 
Company of Boston, Mass. Its present officers are : Logan H. Roots, President; 
John D. Adams, Vice-President; P. K. Roots, Treasurer, and J, N. Keller, General 
Superintendent. 

The San Antonio Telephone Exchange is now in charge of an accomplished 
electrician, Mr. J. K. Dunbar, and a numerous corps of assistants. The number of 
subscribers now (May 15, 1882) exceeds two hundred, and is meeting with daily 
accessions; in fact, it is not thought the list will stop short of four hundred, even 
should the population of San Antonio not go beyond twenty-five thousand, a limit 
at which no one thinks it will stop. 

From the records of the Central Office it is found that the number of daily con- 
nections now exceeds on an average twenty-five hundred, with now and then a 
spurt reaching three thousand. This, of course, represents that number of messages, 
and the saving in time and messengers' wages is at once apparent. The list of sub- 
scribers includes every class of business, connections with the police stations, a 
complete fire-alarm system, physicians, transfer companies, telegraph offices, the 
Post Office, hotels, railroad freight, passenger, and ticket offices, etc., etc. The 
Central Office is never closed. 

There are within the city limits over one hundred miles of wire, taking in pretty 
much its entire suburbs in every direction. The heaviest traffic is along Commerce 
Street, Houston Street, and the Plazas, although the residence portion of the city 
comes in for a fair share of the attention of the switch attendants. The system, as 
is common in American cities, is entirely aerial, and where the wires converge, one 
is at once impressed with the belief that all the space is filled, but such is not by 
any means the case. 

The first location of the Central Office was in the Dauenhauer Building, on the 
northeast corner of the Main Plaza, but the present Central Office is on the corner 
of Houston and Soledad Streets, at the junction of the street car line and within a 
few hundred feet of the actual centre of the city. The management is progressive, 
and great praise is due them for the able and courteous manner in which they have 
attended to the public interests connected with their institution. Mr. J. K. Dunbar, 
the originator and manager here, is entitled to special praise for his untiring energy 
in making it a success, and from him the foregoing facts were obtained. 

MAIL FACILITIES. 

The San Antonio Post Office is located in the Gallagher Building, on the corner 
of North Alamo and Blum Streets, forming a part of the south side of the Alamo 
Plaza. It is centrally located, and the street cars pass by it every few minutes dur- 
ing the day and until late at night. The building is a fine two-story stone structure, 
artistic' in its proportions, and built especially for its present use. The Post Office 
occupies the entire lower floor, and is said to be the finest arranged rented Post Office 
in the southwest. The lease is for ten years, from December 1, 1877, to December 1, 
1887, at $1,000 per annum. All the appointments of the office are first class. 
Besides our two railways, there are a number of stage routes to various points in 



TKE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 105 

Western Texas not now connected with this city by rail, which carry the many 
mails which arrive at and depart from our offlce daily. Tlie free delivery system is 
in force here. 

At the date we go to press, the following are the officials and regulations of the 
office: 

John C. Manning, postmaster; Leopold Happertz, assistant postmaster. 

Office hours. — General delivery open from 7 A.M. to 5 P.M.; money order 
department from 8 A.M. to 4 P M. ; stamp and registry department from 8 A.M. to 
4 P.M. Sundays — general delivery, stamp, and registry department from 8 to 
10 A.M. 

Employes. — W. L. Simpson, registry clerk; Miss Bessie Dwyer, stamp and box 
clerk; Herman Elbers, general delivery clerk; E. G. Jones, mailing clerk; John 
Gallagher, assistant mailing clerk; Hiram G. Wickes, distributing clerk. 

SAN ANTONIO GAS COMPANY. 

Our Gas Company was chartered January 28, 1860, with a capital stock of 
$130,000, which, under the charter, may be increased to $250,000. It has two large 
gas-holders.with a capacity of eighiy thousand cubic feet, and about twenty miles of 
mains and services, and additions being made thereto constantly. The works are 
located immediately west of tlie business centre of the city, on the banks of the San 
Pedro Creek. The grounds are ample, and all of the appointments of the company 
are tirst class. Tne company is in a prosperous condition, and pays a dividend on 
its capital stock of eight per cent., payable in quarterly instalments, and with an 
ample \Aorking reserve. The consumption of gas is increasing steadily. The pres- 
ent officers are: J. H. Kampmann, president; C. M. Terrell, vice-president; A. E. 
Judge, superintendent; Thomas G. Williams, secretary. 

SAN ANTOJaO ELECTRIC COMPANY. 

This company was organized in 1881, and was put in practical operation in 
March, 1883. The system employed is that of the United States Electric Lighting 
Company of New York, and has met with the approbation of all who have tried it. 
The company at present has more orders for lights than the present capacity of their 
works, and have commenced to enlarge on a grand scale. The capital stock is 
quoted at par now, and by the time this book is ready for delivery the slock wdl 
probably command a premium. This enterprise is another testimonial of the engi- 
neering skill and business ability of Mr. W. R. Freeman, and its successful estab- 
lishment is an honor alike to himself an J our city. The officers are: President, W. 
R. Freeman; Secretary and Treasurer, A. C. Schryver. 

ICE FACTORIES. 

As mentioned elsewhere, San Antonio has four ice factories, where ice, equal to 
the northern article, is manufactured daily during the entire year. Our winters 
being very mild, and cold days the exception rather than the rule, there is a constant 
demand for ice here, and the summer demand is increasing so rapidly that our pres- 
ent factories will have to increase their present capacity or build additional factories. 
Two of the ice factories have a present capacity of about ten tons each per day; 
these are t'le Alamo Ice Factory and the San Antonio Ice Factory. The Star Ice 
Factory is a small affair, and averages a ton of ice per day. The United States Ice 
Factory at present manufactures about four tons of ice per day, but that is not its 
full capacity. The water used is from the head of the river, and chemists pronounce 
it perfectly pure. The usual charge for ice here is one cent per ton, a cent and a 
quarter per hundred pounds, and two cents per pound for smaller quantities deliv- 
ered in any part of the city or suburbs. Large contracts can be made for a less 
price than above given. The ice business here is certain to become a big item in 
oiu: regular business, as the demand is increasing rapidly. 



106 THE ALAMO CITY OLIDE 



CHAPTER XIII. 

CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Etc. 

The City of San Antonio is believed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest 
incorporated city in the United States. Tbe following are the various charters it 
has held, with the amendments to the same, down to 1879: 

First— Charter granted by the King of Spain in 1733 or 1734. 

Second — An act to incorporate the town of Nacogdoches and other towns here- 
in named, l)y the Republic of Texas. January 5, 1837. 

Third — Act of incorporation, December 14, 1837. 

Fouith — Act supplementary, January 26, 1839. 

Fifth— Act of incorporation, January 14, 1843. 

Sixth— Act to incorporate the City of San Antonio, January 24, 1852. (Voted 
upon and rejected by the people.) 

Seventh — An act to amend the act of January 14, 1842, November 26, 1855. 

Eighth — Act of incorporation, July 17, 1856. 

Ninth — Act of incorporation, August 13, 1870. 

Tenth -Amendments to sections 5, 6, 24. 33, 46. 131, 135, 189, and 230, mide 
by the people at an election held December 15, 1874. 

E'evenlh— Amendments to sections 5, 24, 43, and 45, April 18, 1879, by Six- 
teenth Legislature. 

The City Hall is in the French building, on the second floor, located on the 
southeast corner of Main Plaza. The Recorder's Court-Room is in a building on 
the Military Plaza, and includes the entire second story of the building, tlie Police 
Headquarters occupying the lower flo(jr, wiiile the City Prison is in an enclosure 
surrounded by a high stone wall connected with, and immediately in the rear of this 
buildinsr. 

Next general election for city ofBcials takes place the second Monday in Janu- 
ary, 1883. Regular meetings of City Council, third Tuesday of each month. C6m- 
mittee meetings, second and fourth Tuesday of each month. 

CITY OFFICIALS. 

James H. French, Mayor; Theodore Baldus, clerk; Phil. Shardein, marshal; 
M. G. Anderson, recorder; P. H Marx, clerk recorder's court; Gustav Frasch, 
assessor; Julius Hoyer, collector; R. C. Norton, treasurer; S. G. Newton, attorney; 
Rudolph Menger, physician; C. P. Smith, engineer; Isaac Morloy, assistant engineer; 
"Wm. Heiner. sexton; W. M. Edgar, market master; C. Listich, public weigher; W. 
C. Rote, superintendent public schools; J. G. Marshall, street commissioner; W. H. 
Deussen, ditch commissioner, east side San Pedro River; B Wilkins, ditch com- 
missioner, west side San Pedro River; M. G. Anderson, recorder; P. H. Marx, clerk 
recorder's court; Phil. Shardein, city marshal; Hermann Karber, first assistant 
marshal; Thomas J. Hughes, second assistant marshal; William Bitter, jailer; 
Joseph Kohr, night clerk at jail. 

Aldermen, 

First Ward— Joseph E. Dwyer, E. Arnaud, and M. C. Scheiner. 
Second Ward— Geo. W. Caldwell, F Schreiner, and W. R. Story. 
Third Ward— H. L. Degener, Ben. Mauermann, and J. F. Minter. 
Fourth Ward— J. H. Copeland, H. Pauly, and Niggli. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



107 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Theo. Baldus we are enabled to present the fol- 
lowing 

OFFICIAt, STATEMENT OP THE LIABtLITEES OP THE CITY OP SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 
ON THE 1st day OP JUNE, 1882 : 



When Notes or Bonds. 
Issued, 

! 


Purpose of Issue. \ ^hen 


Rate 

of 

Int'st. 


Amount. 


Total. 


1^74 'Notes. 


Irrigating ditches. : 1884: 


10;^ 


$15,000 00 




1875 llO|20yr. Coupon, ; 








i Bonds. ^Funding. ' 1895 


10^ 


50,000 00 




1875 5|10 vr. Coupon 


Street Improve ■ 








• 1 Bonds. 


ments (Called). '. 1885 


105^ 


400 00 




1878 10|20 yr. Coupon 


Public Improve- 










1 Bonds. 


ments. 


1898 


8'^ 


50,000 00 




1881 10|20 yr. Coupon 












1 Bonds. 


Fuoding 10$?'s. 


1901 


6% 


40,000 00 




1878 ; Notes. 


Purchase of Fire 










1 


Hall. 


1882 


8% 


2,000 00 




1878 'Notes. 


Purchase of School 














Lot. 


1882 


9% 


500 00 


1157,900 00 








Less Bonds in 


Sinking Fund 






7,26) 97 
















$150,633 03 


1881 


Floating Debt. |Temporary Loan. | 1882 
Total 


8% 




2,(J00 CO 




$152,633 03 




Amount of 10|20 year Qfo Coupon Bonds ordered bj the City 




Council to be issued for the payment of the Judgments ren- 






dered by the U. S. Courts in favor of the 1 


lolder 


s of S. A. & 






M. G. R. R. Bonds 






55,000 00 
$207,633 03 







Population of San Antonio, Census of 1880 20,567 

Estimated population in 1882 25,000 

Assessed valuation of property in 1881 , $8,629,955 

Estimated actual value , $12,000,000 

Rate of taxation One per cent. 



1 certifj' the above statement to be true and correct. 



Theo. Baldcs, City Clerk. 



SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

On May 21, 1878, the fire department of this city was reorganized, and at 
present includes two first class steam fire engines, a hook and ladder truck, and one 
hand engine, the latter belonging to the colored company. Each company is well 
providi d with all the modern conveniences for fighting fire, the telephone company 
has an efficient fire alarm, and the several engine houses are well built and conve- 
niently located. The regular meetings of the several companies are held on the first 
Wednesday of each month, at the engine houses. 

Officers — G. A. Duerler, chief ; H. L. Degener, assistant chief; Eugene Staffel, 
secretary. The Board of Directors is composed of the chief and assistant of Depart- 
ment and the foreman and assistant foreman of each company. 



108 THE ALfMO CITY GUIDE. 

Milam Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1. — House 346 south side Market Street, near 
Main Plaza. 

Officers — F. Scbrtiner, foreman ; Henry Collraan, assistant foreman ; John 
Rosen heimer, secretary ; A. Steiner, treasurer ; E. Monger, engineer ; Charles 
Kuntzmann, assistant engineer ; Cljarles Cliristophel, house-keeper. 

Alamo Fire Association No. 2. — Organized December 21, 18o9. Chartered Feb- 
ruary 11. 1800. Present membership," 47. Engine house, west side Avenue C, 
between Houston and Travis Streets. 

Officers — Wm. Hoefling, Sr., foreman ; C. J. Zusrhlag, assistant toroman; F. 
C. Haueisen, secretaiy ; Charles Degen, treasurer ; L. Franli, recorder ; J. Schuehle, 
engineer ; R. J. Nixon, assistant engineer ; Wm. Piper, stoker ; F. H. Fischer, pipe ' 
director ; Wm. Hoefling, Jr., hose director ; F. Rummel, police captain. 

Turner Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 — Organized 1869. Membership, 41. 

Officers — Ben IVIauermann, foreman ; Eugene Staffel, assistant : J. H. Schafer, 
secretary ; Edward Dreiss, treasurer ; H. Baetz, and August Huth, Hook and Lad- 
der committee. 

Fire Co. No. 3 {Colored). — House west side San Pedro Creek, corner of Com- 
merce and San Saba Stree's. 

Officers — Zach Irwin, foreman ; Jasper Thompson, assistant foreman. 

BEXAB COUNTY 

Originally included nearly all of Western Texas, but there have been so many 
new counties carved out of it from time to time, that it is now reduced to its present 
limits. As we are striving to confine this book as nearly as possible to the limits of 
San Antonio, we will refrain from an extended notice of the county in detail, and 
merely give such facts as will prove of interest to visitors to San Antonio, who, 
should they desire further information, can easily obtain it of almost any of our citi- 
zens. San Antonio is the county seat, and here t])e District Court of the twenty- 
seventh judicial district holds its sessions. The next county election takes place on 
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1882, and the county officers 
holding office for two years. The following are the District and County officers at 
the present writing. 

George H Noonan, di.strict judge ; George R. Dashiell, district clerk ; Felix G. 
Smith, county judge ; Sam. S. Smith, county clerk ; Thad. W. Smith, Juan E. 
Barrera, deputy county clerks ; Thomas P. McCall, sheriff; E. A. Stevens, Joseph 
Sheely, W. G. M. Samuel, August Krawietz, and F. Schreiner, deputy sheriffs ; 
Fred v ocke, county attorney ; Jose E. Garcia, county assessor ; Frank McC. New- 
ton, county collector ; John B. Lacoste, county treasurer ; William M. Locke, 
county surveyor ; John Wickeland, sheep inspector ; J. P. Campbell, hide and ani- 
mal inspector ; R. B. Neighbors, deputy hide and animal inspector ; R. L. Graves, 
county physician ; R. Symington county superintendent of poor. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 



C. Guerguin, first precinct ; J. E. Ochse, second precinct ; Wm. Ho 
precinct ; John C. Beck, fourth precinct. 

Anton Adam and Peter Shields, justices of the peace, first precinct. 
F. Bader, constable, first precinct. 



C. Guerguin, first precinct ; J. E. Ochse, second precinct ; Wm. Hoefling, third 
ninct : John C. Berk, fourth precinct. 

elds, justices of the \ 
•ecinct. 

OUR COURT HOUSE. 

On page K 9 will be seen an admirable illustration of the Bexar County Court 
House, as remodelled bv Alfred Giles, architect. The original building was a 
" straight up and down" affair, which was built by the Freemasons as a lodge 
building, but the present structure, while retaining some of the old walls, is reallj^ a 
new building, the front having been extended two-thirds the old size, and the inte- 
rior being entirely changed. The present building, which is located on Soledad 
Street, near the Veramendi House, where Colonel James Bowie was married and 
afterwards resided, and where the heroic Colonel Ben Milam met his death during 
the battle of San Antonio (see page \2et seq.\ has a total front of eighty -two feet six 
inches. In the centre of the front, on the first story, are large double iron gales 



THE ALAMO CITY GOTDB. 



109 




110 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDK. 



entering into a lobby twenty-six by twenty ei.sht feet in size, in which is a stair- 
way, eight feet wide, leading to the second story of the building and the District 
Court-room. At the end of the lobby, on the first floor, is a hall eighteen feet wide, 
which continues through the building. The first story contains the following rooms 
and offices, all of which are spacious and airy : The County Collector's office ; 
County Commissioner's Court-room ; County Judge's room, County Assessor's 




oflace and private room; County Surveyor's office; County Treasurer's office; County 
Clerk's office and private room. 

At the head of the stairway, on the second floor, which leads from the lobby, 
are the double doors which open into the District Court Room. This room is forty 
by seventy feet in size and twenty-five feet high. At one end of the court-room is a 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



Ill 



passage leading fo the District Clerk's office, which is over the County Clerk's office, 
and both of which adjoin the large two story stone fire-proof vault in which the 
records are kept The District Court room is especially well ventilated. The other 
offices on ihe second floor are the sheriff's, with a private office, a witness's room, 
and the County Attorney's office. 

On the Ihird floor is a gallery, overlooking the District Court-room, a jury-room 
with a private office, and the Grand Jury room. The whole building shows great 
arcliitectural as well as artistic ability on the part of the architect, and IMr. Giles has 
added another monument to the many others here which attest his skill as u-a accom- 
plished architect. 

BEXAR COUNTY JAIL. 

Our County Jail, situated on Cameron Street, in the centre of the city, and 
conveniently near the County Court-house, is pronounced by experts to be second to 
none in the biate of Taxes. Our illustration is a perspective made from the draw- 




CROCKETT BLOCK. 



ings of the architect, Mr. Alfred Giles. This jail has stood the test of three years* 
use, during which time the worst characters from San Antonio to the Rio Grande 
have been sent here for safe keeping, and during this entire time there has never yet 
been an escape from its walls. It has accommodations for eighty six prisoners, all 
the cells being constructed of the most improved steel and iron, saw and file proof. 
It is also provided with all the humanitarian and reformatory appliances of the day. 
The modern method of jail building, as shown in the Bexar County Jail, is perfec- , 
tion for light, air, space, and ventilation, combmed with security. The whole iron | 
work inside of the prisoners' room can be best described as an immense iron cage 
constructed of crossed bars, and having a two story row of cells along two of its 
opposite sides, and in the centre a space for the exercise of the prisoners, they being 
still within the bars. The locks and levers are of the latest patents. The jailor's 
residence is in the front portion of the building, separated from the prisoners' room 
by a wall of solid masonry. The cells for women and children are entirely separate 
from and out of sight of those for the men, thus giving better facilities for refor- 
matory purposes than could otherwise be had. A furnace in the engine-room at the 
rear of the building supplies sufficient heat during any extreme cold weather during 



112 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

the winter months. The mason work of this jail was constructed by Mr. H, Pauly, 
contractor, and is worthy of special mention. 

CROCKKTT BLOCK. 

Not only has San Antonio fine public buildings, but it has well-proportioned 
business houses and beautiful residences as well. Crockett Block is one of the 
numerous business blocks which ornament the city, more noticeable, perhaps, from 
its appropriate location on the west side of Alamo Plaza, immediately in front of 
the historic Alamo where the renowned hunter and hero. Davy Crocliett (for whom 
this building is named), bravely defied the hordes of the Mexican tyrant, Santa 
Anna, and in the sacred cause of liberty fousht his last fight, and baptized the 
hallowed ground wiih his life's blood. This block, as will be seen by reference to 
our illustration, contains four spacious stores, each with lars-e cellars and oflTice 
rooms in the second story. The owners of this building are members of the Maverick 
family, who have done more to build up the business portion of our city with 
creditable business houses than any other family here. The architect was Mr. 
Alfred Giles. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 113 



CHAPTER XIV. 

COURTS, ETC. 
UNITED STATES COURTS AND OFFICIALS. 

San Antonio being the county seat and the principal city inWestern Te.vas us well , 
the United States Circuit and District Courts for the Western District of Texas also 
hold two terms here each year. The United States Court-room and the offices of 
the officers of the United States Courts are in the second story of the French Build- 
ing, on the southeast corner of the Main Plaza, to the rear of the offices of he city 
officials. The regular terms of the United Stntes Courls commence on the first 
Tuesday in March and October of each year. The following is a list of the 

UNITED STATES OFFICIALS, 

all of whom reside in this city, or make it their headquarters, except the United 
States Circuit and District Judges and the United States District Attorney: 

Hon. Don Pardee, New Orleans, La.. United States Circuit Judue; Hon. 
E. B. Turner, Austin, Texas, United States District Judge; W. C. Robards, San 
Antonio, United States Circuit Cle.k; Duval Beall, San Antonio, United States 
District Clerk; Eben S. Niccolls, Deputy Clerk United States Circuit and District 
Courts; George Paschal. United States Commissioner; Hal. L Gosling, United States 
Marshal; C. R. Prouty, Ferd. Niggli, Deputy United States Marshals; R. M. Moore, 
Special Agent of the Treasury Department; Wesley Ogden, Deputy Collector of 
Customs; E. H. Chichester, Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. 

STATE COURTS. 

Ticcnfy-Secoiid Judicial District Court. — Meets at the Court-house in San Antonio 
the first Monday in March, and continues in session twelve weeks; the first Monday 
in June, and continues in session four weeks; the first Monday in September, and 
continues in session twelve weeks; the first Monday in December, and continues 
in session twelve weeks. Hon. George H. Noonan, Judge; George R. Dashiell, 
Clerk. 

Bexar County Court. — For probate business, meets at tlie Court house in San 
Antonio the third Monday of each alternate month, beginning with January. Hon. 
Felix G. Smith, Judge; Sam. S. Smith, Clerk. 

County Commimoners' Court. — Holds regular terms at the Court-house in San 
Antonio the second Monday in February, May, August, and November of each 
year. Hon. Felix G. Smith, presiding. 

Justices' Courts, First Precinct. — Meet in offices near the County Court-house 
daily. Justices Anton Adams and Peter Shields. 

Itecm'der's Court. — Meets each morning in the Recorder's Court-room, second 
story of City Building, on Military Plaza, over Post Office. Hon M. G. Anderson, 
Recorder, P. H. Marx, Clerk. 



114 THE AliAMO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER XV. 

NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. 

San Antonio is well provicled witli newspapers, and has two very creditable 
magazines. If all those were mentioned which have been started here, and, after serv- 
ing their time, have ceased publicaticm and passed out of mind, it would require the 
limits of a much larger volume than this. We will, therefore, speak only of the 
living, and let the dead bury their dead in peace. 

THE DAILY AND WEEKLY EXPRESS 

This is the only morning daily published west of the Colorado River, and has 
a veiy larffe circulation throughout Western Texas. Full Associated Press tele- 
graph despatches are taken, the editorial columns are spicy and varied, its politics 
being Democratic, with liberal tendencies and no entanglements with cliques or 
rings. The commercial reports are very full and reliable, while its local columns pre- 
sent a faithful mirror of city news. It also has a very large and steadily increasing 
advertising patronage. 

This paper is now in its sixteenth volume, and was originally established as a 
straight out Republican daily, but, passing into other hands, it became a Demo- 
cratic advocate, and has so continued. The p:esent proprietors are experienced 
and progressive newspaper men, and are constantly adding new features to meet 
the growing demands of the people of Western Texas. One of its most deserving 
features is its agricultural repoits and correspondence, which is under the charge of 
a veteran agriculturalist, who writes over the nom de plume of "Greeley No. 2." 
In fact, the entire editorial corps of this paper is above the average of papers pub- 
lished outside of the large cities of the North and East 

The weekly contains a careful resume of the articles which appear in the daily, 
and is the favorite weekly newspaper of Western Texas. It has a very larp-e circu- 
lation, which is steadily increasing. The subscription for the daily is $10.0U per 
annum, and for the weekly, $1.75 per annum. 

THE EVENING LIGHT. 

This is a live little evening sheet, Republican to the back-bone, and spicy on 
every page. It is ably edited and well managed, and has '■: large and steadily 
increasing circulation. Current events are dished up in a short, crisp manner, 
■which make it very popular, while the spicy comments on men and events cause it 
to be read by those whose political faith is diametrically opposed to it. The sub- 
scription price is $5.00 per annum. 

THE SAN ANTONIO TIMES, 

published by the Times Printing Company, No. 38 Soledad Street, is acknowledged 
to be the best local paper in the city. It takes a firm and decided stand on all loeal 
questions and all questions of importance to the welfare of the city. The Times 
is strictly Democratic, neither swerving to the right nor the left from that grand old 
doetriu'^. The Times is the best local advertising medium in the city, having a larger 
circulation than any afternoon paper in the State, and the list of subscribers is 
rapidly iiicn a-in'i-. The paper is delivered to subscribers in any part of the city at 
the low prici! of fifty cents per month, and is sold at the counter and on the streets 
at two and a half cent-; per copy. For advertising rates call on or address, " Times 
Printing Company," 38 Soledad Street, San Antonio, Texas. 

FREIE PRESSE FtJER TEXAS, 
{Free Press for Texas,) 
a daily and weekly newspaper, publiNhed at San Antonio, Texas, by H. Schulz «fc 
Co., devoted to social and political reform. Republican in politics. Large circula- 
tion all over the State, and the best medium for reaching every German family in 
Texas. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 115 

DER BEOBACHTER, 

A semi-weekly paper, appears every Wednesday and Saturday. It was started in 
188 ), the first number appearins? March 31, in said year. The founders were L. F. 
Lafreutz, John Schott, Alexander Bartlingck, and William Schiirz. The latter two 
withdrew after the first six months, and the former two carried the business on alone. 
The paper has a good circulation in the city as well as in the surrounding counties, 
especially Comal and Medina. 

THE TEXAS WOOL, JOURNAL. 

This periodical has just entered the second year of its existence, and its success 
is a fair reflex of that of the industry which it represents. It was started in July, 
1881, as a monthly, Messrs. P. J. Stephenson and H. A. Givens, of Bandera, being 
proprietors, editors, compositors, and the full team. After the first number, H. A. 
Givens sold to L. A. Hcil, who, with the first mentioned gentleman, moved it to San 
Antonio, and contmued partners till November, when Heil bought out Stephenson, 
and then in December sold that interest to C. G. Hubbard, and they bought presses 
and type and began to print their own paper in January. In June a stock company 
was formed for the purpose of changing the paper from a monthly to a weekly, to 
meet tlie growing demand of the industry, and the following gentlemen formed 
themselves into said company: F. W. Shaeffer, San Diego, Duval County; H. J. 
Chamberlin, of Davilla, Milam County; W. Scott, Kerrville, Kerr County; O. S. 
Newell, Brackett. Kinney County; A. McGregor, Jr., Paint Rock, Concho County; 
C. G. Hubbard, San Antonio, Bexar County; S. J. Arnold, Montelle, Uvalde County; 
L. A. Heil, San Antonio, Bexar County; D. J. Crouch, Brackett, Kinney County; 
H. C. Griner, Del Rin, Kinney County; John Wickeland, Bexar County. 

Among the stockholders will be found some of the most prominent wool and 
sheep men of the Slate, a list of whom, with the present officers, are: President: F. 
W. Shaeffer, San Diego, Texas; First Vice-President; John Wickeland, San 
Antonio, Texas; Second Vice-President: W. Scott, Kerrville, Texas; Third Vice- 
President: H. C. Griner, Del Rio, Texas; Fourth Vice President: Wm. Gerfers, 
San Antonio, Texas; Secretary: L. A. Heil, San Antonio, Texas; Treasurer: Eugene 
Staffel, San Antonio, Texas. 11. J. Chamberlin, Duvilia ; A. Symes, Taylor; A. 
McGreffor, Paint Rock; C. Real, Kerrville; A. Real, Bexar county; Evans & Moore, 
FortEwell; R. Jordan, Sr., FortEwell; O. S. Newell, Brackett; White & Moulton, 
Crockett County; D. M Clarkson, Brackett; Ed. Buckley and A. J, T. Beauregard, 
San Antonio; J. S. Arnold, Uvalde County; T. H. Zanderson, San Antonio; J. O. 
Sullivan, Kinney County; D. & A. Oppenheimer, San Antnnio; WoodhuU Bros., 
Brackett County; W. H. Melvin, Concho County; Joe P. Devine, Bexar County; 
C. G. Hubbard, and C. R. Prouty, San Antonio; Henry Fink, Del Rio; and Philip 
Palmer, Brackett. 

The company is determined to publish a paper that will fully represent their 
interests, by fearlessly grappling all questions having any bearing on the industry, 
and offering no apologies for protecting themselves. Being owned and controlled 
by the sheep men themselves, those engaged in that business all over theUnion can 
relyon its loyalty. Its statistical and market departments will be important features. 
Terms: $3 per year. Advertising rates reasonable. Address, Texas Wool Pub- 
lishing Company, San Antonio, Texas. 

EL. CENTINELA. 

This is a Spanish weekly, which has good circulation among our Spanish-speak- 
ing citizens. 

MAGAZINES. 

Two magazines are published here, one the Texas Journal op Education, 
which is edited by Professor W. C. Rote, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 
is doing a good work in the cause of popular education, and the other, The Alamo, 
a literary monthly, with a specialty of Texas history and literature. Both of these 
monthlies are doing well, and are steadily increasing in public favor. 



116 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

THE CASTROVHiLE QDTLL. 

Twenty-five miles west of San Antonio, and on a direct line from the City of 
Mexico, lies the beautiful and quaint little village of Castroville, now chiefly cele- 
brated as the home of The Castroville Quill, a live and very spicy little sheet, 
brimful of wit and Western Texas news, which is edited and published by United 
States Marshal Hal. L. Gosling, who also holds the office of President of the Texas 
Press Association. The knowing ones say it was The Quill that got Marshal Gos- 
ling his office. However that may be, he makes an excellent official, and his news- 
paper is just the one that persons contemplating moving to Texas should subscribe 
for in order to learn of the actualities of Western Texas life. Its pnlitics are thor- 
oughly and unflinchingly Republican, and the truth is told at all times regardless of 
consequences, yet, at the same time, in such a crisp and aj^reeable manner as to 
attract the reader and impress the facts on his mind where a loss talented writer 
would be prosy. The Quill is a weekly, and the subscription price is two dollars 
per annum, biit for the immigrant and those seeking reliable information about 
Western Texas the two dollars thus invested will never be regretted. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 117 



CHAPTER XVI. 

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. 

The cuuse of education has always been fostered by the legislators and rulers of 
Texas. During the early days of tlie Republic of Texas liberal land grants were 
donated to the variout. counties for the support of public free schools. Since that 
time to the present day there has not been a regular session of the Texas Legislature 
during which some additional aid to the cause of education has not been granted. 
Besides this, the principal cities in the State have also granted subsidies to their 
public free schools, and no Texas cityJhas been more liberal in this than San Antonio. 
Of course these schools have labored under serious disadvantages during the past 
in lacking a general State organization, but the State Board of Education is fast 
providing a remedy for this, and the first move is in establishing summer normal 
schools for teachers in various cities and towns throughout the State. This, it is 
hoped, will lead to a more thorough organization of the teachers actually employed 
throughout the State, and also will introduce new methods of teaching here and 
lead to a general advance in the range of studies taught in the public free schools of 
Texas. 

PUBLIC FKEE SCHOOLS. 

The public schools of the City of San Antonio, under the control of a School 
Board, are superintended by W. C. Rote, a veteran in school organization. The 
entire school course comprises a period of twelve years, divided into the three 
departments of Primary, Grammar, and High School, each requiring four years for 
completion. The scholastic period commences at the age of six years, and ends at 
the age of eighteen years. These schools have a permanent fund of about $1 10,600, 
from which they derive an iucomefof six per cent, per annum, and, in addition to 
that, they have a pro rata of the State appropriation, which last year amounted to 
something over $11,000. There are four ward schools, one central school, and one 
colored school. In all these schools twenty-eight teachers are now employed. The 
total enrolment for the year exceeds 2,100; the average being about 1,500, and the 
daily attendance, 1,200. 

The First Ward School, on the corner of South Flores and Gilbeau Streets, 
erected in 1868, is a stone building, two stories high, having two rooms on each 
floor, with an ample hall and stairway communicating with all the rooms. This 
building is seated to accommodate two hundred pupils, but nearly three hundred 
have been in attendance this year. The value of building lots and furniture is about 
$13,500. The following are the teachers of this school: Miss C. V. Fisk, principal, 
and Miss Ellen M. Preston, Miss Addie Sampson and Miss Martha Cook, assistants. 

The Second Ward School comprises two frame buildings, of two rooms each. 
The lot is situated on Romana Street, midway between Acequia and North Florea 
Streets. 

This school is also seated to accommodate two hundred pupils, but about three 
hundred pupils had to be provided for during the year. The buildings, lots, and 
furniture are worth about $7,000. The teachers employed are : Mrs. S. J. Merrick, 
principal; and Miss Jessie ISiccolls, Miss Texana Rossy, and Miss Lizzie Hebgen, 
assistants. 

The Third Ward School, situated on the corner of Avenue E and Fourth Street, 
and built in 1878, is the largest school building in the city. It is two stories in 
height, built of stone, and contains six school rooms. The front is relieved by a 
portico and balcony, and in the rear is a double gallery, which, by two flights of 
stairs, is m'ule to communicate with all the rooms in the building. The rooms are 
provided with desks to accommodate three hundred pupils, but many more had to 
be crowded in during the year. The building, grounds, and furniture cost about 
$12,000. The teaching corps at present is Mrs. M. A. Murphy, principal; assistants, 
Miss Laura F. Crider, Miss Addie Dashiell, Miss Alvina Klocke, Miss Bettie Brew- 
ster, and Miss Lillie Steele. 



1.8 THE ALAMO (fiTT GUIDE. 

The Fourth Ward School, situated on +he corner of Lavaca and Matagorda 
Streets built in 1877, is a two-story stone building, containing six school-rooms. 
Accommodations are provided for two hundred and fifty pupils, but many more are 
connected with the school. The cost of grounds, building, and furniture is esti- 
mated at $10,500. The teachers of this school are Mist Agnes Cotton, i)rincipal; 
assisted by Miss Annie Beck, Miss ZeJla Graves Miss Hedwig Heusinger and Miss 
Inez Moke. 

The Central School occupies (June, 1882) the Vance Barracks, corner St. Mary's 
and Travis Streets. This is a rented building, old, dilapidated, and badly located for 
a school, but thanks to the intelligence and enterprise of the people of San Antonio, 
a tax has been voted to erect a substantia] building ol stone. It is the design to erect 
this building, which is to contain twelve school rooms, on Acequia Street, snuth of 
the corner of Romaua Street. The Central School, now in the Vance Barracks, has 
a corps of five teachers, as follows Prof. M. F Halbedl, principal High School, 
and Miss Lizzie S Matthews, assistant; Mrs V. T. Polk, teacher first grade grammar; 
Miss Edith Carleton, teacher second grade grammar Miss Emma AVescott, teacher 
third grade grammar. 

After the completion of the Central School building, it will accommodate all 
the grammar grades of the ward schools in addition to the Higii School classes. 

The Colored School, on the corner of Rincon and St. Mary's Street, erected in 
1869, is a two-story stone building, with four school rooms. It will seat comfortably 
two hundred pupils, but over three hundred had to be crowded into the building 
this year. This building, with lots and furniture, cost about .$13,000. The teachers 
are: Mr. R. II. Ilurbert, principal; assisted by Mr. John R. Booker, Mrs. M. J. 
Grimes, and Miss Mollie II. Cary. 

]NoTE — The above report was written in June, 1882, and now, two months 
later, the Central High School building is well under way, and will be completed 
and ready for use during the present scholastic year. 

THE NEW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BDILDING, 

now in course of erection, will be a substantial stone structure with cut stone trim- 
mings, and three stories in height, with an observatory and clock tower in the centre 
of the front. The ground measurement is one hundred by a hundred feet. The 
first and second stories contain four school rooms each, twenty-six by thirty feet in 
size, with wide halls, and the usual cloak rooms, etc. The lower story is sixteen 
feet in the clear, and the second story fourteen feet. The third story will contain a 
large lecture room and smaller rooms which can be used for various purposes. 'The 
windows are large and extend to the floor, being so arranged as to catch the breeze 
from any quarter, thus the thorough ventilation of the building has been amply pro- 
vided for. The stairways are fire-proof, built between solid stone walls, and are six 
feet wide. The entrance into the observatory and clock tower is from the third 
floor by an easy flight of stairs. The height froni the foundation to the floor of the 
observatory is seventy-five feet, and the height from the foundation to the top of the 
clock tower is one hundred and thirty feet. The clock tower is to be provided with 
a large clock having four dials, facing one each north, south, east, and west. The 
interior fittings are intended to be first-class in every particular. The total cost 
when the building is completed will be $100,000. 

W. K. DOBSON". 

The designer of this building, Mr. W. K. Dobson, al- 
tbougli a comparatively new comer, l^rought with him an 
established reputation as a fine architect, and during his brief 
residence here has won a substantial recognition from many 
of our leading citizens. Among the many fine buildings he 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 119 

has designed, besides the High School Building, we note 
a I eaiitiful stone residence for Mr. Ed. Kotula, on Avenue 
C; extensive alterations for Col. (Jr. W. Brackenrido:e at 
his beautiful villa at the head of the river; and a palatial 
residence for Col. Ed. Cunningham, north of the United 
States Quartermaster's Depot. Either of these buildings 
would be regarded as fully establishing the claim of an archi- 
tect to public recognition as thoroughly skilled in his pro- 
fession. 

PRIVATE BCHOOLS, ETC. 

Besides its admirable system of public free schools, San Antonio has a large 
number of private boarding and day schools, where a wider range of subjects are 
taught. Among these are the following: 

THE GERMAN-ENGLISH SCHOOL, 

founded about twenty-two years ago, and chartered February 7, 18G0, is an excel- 
lent institution, having some half dozen experienced teachers, and giving practical 
and thorough instruction in German and English. It has several fine buildings, 
with ample grounds, on Alamo Street, on the line of the street railroad. 

ET. Mary's institute, 

the largest of the male schools here, was established in 1853 by the Order of the 
Brothers of Mary, and is at present under the management ot Brother Charles Fran- 
cis, assisted by a corps of fourteen teachers. This institution occupies the large 
liuildings adjoining St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Bishop's residence, on St. 
Mary's street and the river. The ordinary course of instruction prepares boys for 
business or college, and the advanced course is equal to that of many of the smaller 
colleges. There are accommodations for about one hundred and fifty boarders and 
between four and five hundred day scholars. Moral and religious instruction is an 
important feature, and is under the personal supervision of the spiritual heads of 
the Catholic Church. 

Captain Colt's select boarding and day school is an excellent institution for 
boys and young men. It has a tine, healthy location on Nacodoches Street, and a 
full corps of instructors. The course of instruction is varied to suit the needs of 
each pupil, and boys are carefully prepared for West Point, Annapolis, college, or 
business. We heartily recommend this school. 

St. Mary's Hall (Wolfe Memorial) is a French and English boarding and day 
school, under the rectorship of Right Rev. R. W B. Elliott, D.D., Episcopal Bishop 
of VVe.st Texas, and with Miss Phillippa G. Stevenson, as principal, assisted by a 
full corps of teachers in the various branches, including music, painting in oil and 
water colors and on china, sketching, etc. This institution also attracts consider- 
able patronage from other portions of the State, besides being well patronized 
locally. 

Mrs. A. Gregory's school, well situated, with ample grounds on East Commerce 
Street, has also a full corps of instructors in all the branches, including music and 
art, usually taught in young ladies' boarding schools. 

Mrs. Annie H. Hamilton's school also ranks high among the young ladies' 
boarding schools of this city, and the location and building is all that could be 
desired. The corps of instructors is full, and the course of instruction thorough. 

Mrs. C. N. Edmond's school is a fitting companion for those previously men- 
tioned, and has able instructors in the several branches. 



120 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



The Ursuline Convent, under the direction of the Ursuline Sisters, Sister Mary 
Magdalene, Mother Superior, and sixteen assistants, has long held a high rank among 
our educational institutions. The ample buildings and grounds are pleasantly situ- 
ated in a beautiful bend in the river, in a healthy as well as retired location, yet 
quite near the geographical centre of the city. Both boarding and day scholars are 
accommodated, and the course of instruction is thorough and complete. The fame 
of this institution extends beyond our city limits, and many of the pupils come here 
from distant parts of the State. 

St. Joseph's School and Orphan Asylum is a very worthy institution, under the 
charge of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word; Sister St. Pierre, superior, 
with six assistants. The fame of the charity of the good sisters and their noble work 
is proverbial. 




URSULINE CONVENT. 



The Alamo Select School for boys and girls is intended for younger pupils, as 
IS also the Misses Wescott's Select School. 

PAINTING AND MUSIC 

San Antonio is fast becoming celebrated for the culture and refinement of its 
citizens. There are a large number of amateur artists here who have developed 
marked talent, and specimens of their work are sold in the various stores of the city. 
The historic interest whicb centres in the old missions, together with the many 
romantic scenes about the city, furnish fruitful subjects for artists, and cause a 
large and constantly increasing demand for their productions. Not only sketches 
and paintings in oil and water colors, but also hand painted tiles and china are 
made here, and Mr. Robert J. Ondcrdonk, the artist, has established a kiln for fir- 
ing tiles and china. The page illustration of the missions, on page 28 of this book, 
is a copy of an oil painting by Mr. Ondcrdonk, who also has classes in sketching, 
painting in oil and water colors, china painting, craj' on painting, etc. His studio is 
on St. Mary's Street, opposite St. Mary's Church. 

Few cities in America can boast of so many talented musicians among its citi- 
zens as San Antonio. There are also a large number of musical organizations, and 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 121 

several brass and string oands here. Concerts are frequent and are "well attended. 
Several operas have been produced here by local talent, and there is a regular opera 
company composed of local musicians, which produces the leading operas during 
the winter season. 

Amateur theatricals are also very popular here, and frequent performances of 
sterling dramas are given. 



122 THE ALAMO CITY GmDE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. 

With citizens representing almost every country on the face of the globe, San 
Antonio is noted as being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in America. Here are 
found representative business men from every country of Europe and every section 
of the United States; Mexican and American; Jew and gentile; Ciiristian and 
pagan ; people representing every shade and variation of religious belief ; the pious 
devotee and the boldest free-thinker, all meeting here on a common level. With 
such a population, it is but natural that there should be many social organizations 
here of more or less private nature. Elsewhere, it will be seen that tlie various 
secret societies known in America are well represented here, and it now remains to 
speak of other local organizations of a more social nature. 

THE CASINO ASSOCIATION. 

First in importance among the social organizations comes the Casino Associa- 
tion, organized and chartered in 1854, and owning a line building and grounds on 
the river banks, at the junction of Casino and Market Streets. The building con- 
tains a fine theatre, hall capable of accommodating about seven hundred people, 
well lighted and ventilated, and with a complete set of scenery and all the appoint- 
ments of a first class theatre. On this floor are also the usual ante-rooms, green- 
rooms, dressing-rooms, and a private club-room ; while, on the floor below, is a 
spacious banquet-hall and other apartments. This association is on a sound finan- 
cial footing, and the club-room is open to strangers, who are introduced by mem- 
bers. It is needless to remark that the German portion of the inhabitants were the 
promoters of this organization. 

6AN ANTONIO GYMNASTIC ASSOCIATION — TURN VEREIN. 

This is another strong local organization, which has a distinctively German 
origin. It also owns a fine building on the corner of Houston and St. Mary's 
Streets, opposite the Vance House and Odd F( Hows' Building, an<l on the street car 
line. The main hall of the building is admirably fitted up as an opera hall, with a 
large stage with full set of scenery and complete theatrical fittings, dres>*ing-room's, 
green-room, etc. Also a billiard-room and well fitted saloon. The membership is 
large, and the financial condition of the organization is all that can be asked. The 
opera hall can accommodate an audience of eight hundred people, and the acoustic 
properties of the hall, ventilation, etc , are claimed to be the finest of any theatrical 
hall in the city. 

THE SAN ANTONIO CLUB. 

This is a recent organization, chartered in 1883, and having its formal opening, 
March 16, 1883. Its membership is large, and includes representatives of the best 
society here, including many members of the other local social organizations. The 
club occupies the entire second story of the post office building, fronting on Alamo 
Plaza and Alamo Street. The rooms are elegantly fitted, and contain all the con- 
veniences of a first class club house, including an ofiice, billiard-room, reading- 
room, with representative newspapers from every state in the union, and jirominent 
foreign journals as well as the popular weeklies, reception-room, parlor, card-room, 
and a first class saloon. The location is at once cool and central, being over the 
post office, opposite the Menger Hotel, and on the street car line. Slrangers are 
admitted when introduced by members. 

SAN ANTONIO SCHUETZEN TEREIN — SHOOTING COMPANY. 

This organization was established by some of our German citizens in the year 
1857, and was chartered April 11, 18ri. It own^ a tract of about eight acres within 
the city limits, on what is known as Powder House Hill, near the site of the camp of the 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 123 

Texans, when they besieged and captured this city from G^eneral Cos in December, 
1835, and during which battle Colonel Benjamia K. Milam lost his life, a full account 
of which will be found in the historical sketcii whicii is given in this book. This 
society numbers now about sixty -five members, with tlie following officers : Charles 
Gross, president ; E. Doscli, vice-president ; R. C. Stiddig, secretary ; H. De<i:ener, 
corresponding secretary ; R. Neumann, treasurer. Tliey have an ample hall and 
two rifle ranges on their land, one of one hundred and fifty yards, and the otlicr of 
two liundred and fifty yards. Their regular practice and score shooting occurs on 
every Sundaj'^ afternoon, and their annual prize match and King shooting is held ou 
Whitsunday afternoon. The organization is a strong one financially, and its mem- 
bership includes our solid German citizens. 

THE BEXAR BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. 

This society, known as the B. B. A., was founded in 1881. Its objects, 
as st-ated in the Constitution, are: "First, to encourage each other in busi- 
ness by the bestowal of patronage; second, to assist each other in obtaining 
employment; third, to act in a just and equitable manner in all our dealings with 
members; fourth, to aid each other in sickness or distress; fifth, to create a higher 
degree of morality and respectability; to avoid all that is disreputable or calculated 
to demean the man or lower the dignity of the association; also to keep fresh and 
green in our hearts the cardinal principle of our association — Friendship, Trutii, 
and Fidelity. ' 

Officers. — President, R. E. Bond; Vice-President, B. Eberhardt; Secretary, H. 
Ryder Taylor (office, Evening Light office. Commerce Street, P. O. Box, 545); Trea- 
surer, F. E. Muench. 

Number of members, 43. Subscription, 50 cents per month. Initiation fee, 
$3.50. 

Meetings are held upon the first and third Wednesday in each month, in 
Struve's Hall, at eight o'clock. Members only admitted. 

THE ALAMO BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION 

was organized July 29, 1881. Objects: Protection, assistance in need, and the 
improvement of its members socially and intellectually; has a strong membership 
roll, and has rendered need to many persons m distress, and has been of great 
advantage to its members. The meetings are held at Meyer's Hall, Alamo Plaza, 
on tlie night of tlie second Tuesday in each month. The following are the present 
officers: A. I. Nocker, president; John Loesherg, vice-president; Chas. De Veire, 
secretary; H. Meyer, treasurer; C. Rafoth, collector; C. Greisenbeck, Jr., chairman 
board of directors. 

SAN ANTONIO BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 

President, Mr. W. Holland; Vice-President, Mr. H. R. Taylor; Treasurer, Mr. 
Walter Scott; Secretary, Mr. R. J. Kendall. 

Objects. — Cultivation of sociability and fraternity amongst its members, and to 
form a bond of union amongst all Britons It aims to be a centre for all immi- 
grants from the British isles coming to San Antonio. It purposes to endeavor to 
aid them in getting employment, etc., and is generally to create a union for the 
promotion of the mutual good and prosperity of its members. 

Eligibility: All British subjects, or ex-native born British subjects and their 
immediate descendants to the first generation, are eligible for membership. 

THE SAN ANTONIO LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY. 

This society was instituted by Alderman J. H. Copeland and Mr. H. Ryder 
Taylor. The first meeting was held in Justice Shields' Cnurt on Tuesday, Febru- 
ary 28, 1883, when the society was organized. The objects of the society, as 
declared by the preamble of the constitution, are "for mutual improvement in elo- 
quence, composition, and debate." 

Officers. — President, Alderman J. H. Copeland; Vice-President, Gerald Griffin; 
Secretary, II. Ryder Taylor (office, Evening Light office, Commerce Street; P. O. 
Box, 545); Treasurer, C. L. Gruzerski. 

Meetings are held every Thursday evening at eight o'clock in the District Court 



124 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

Room. Initiation fee, $1.50. Monthly dues, 25 cents. Admission free upon tlie 
introduction of members. 

Number of members on the roll, May, 1883, forty-two. 

SAN ANTONIO MECHANICS' AND -WORKINGMEN'S ITNION 

■was organized January 16th, 1883, upon the principles of the United States Govern- 
ment, in which each and every branch of mechanics shall have a just and equal 
representation. 

The objects are to encourage good workmen, protect their interests in every 
way, and assist mechanics when oppressed or in need. 

The Union has met with an unlooked for support from all classes, and particu- 
larly the local press, to whom it is under many obligations. It now numbers one 
hundred members, who are mostly young men and property-holders in this city. 
Since its organization it has obtained work for all who have applied, and extended 
aid to our destitute mechanics' family, provided and cared for one of its members 
who was crippled by an embankment falling upon him. Last, but not least, the 
Union was awarded a beautiful silver water pitcher as third premium for the best 
decorated and mo.st natural representation on their wagon in the first Grand Volks- 
Fest procession, June 3, 1883. The Union receives from five to fifteen new mem- 
bers weekly, is out of debt, and has a cash balance with F. Gross & Co., bankers. 
The following are the present oflicers: Theron Vail, president; H. R. Taylor, vice- 
president; (.'harles DeVeire, general secretary; F. Pasche, financial secretary; S. M. 
Bullard, treasurer; J. Page, collector; A. Nocker, chairman board of directors. 

Meeting on Monday nights at Union Hall, corner Alamo and Villite streets. All 
mechanics visiting or coming to this city are cordially invited to call on or address 
the general secretary, whose duty it is to show them the respect due a mechanic. 

Among the other local organizations are; 

Alamo Monument Association. 

San Antonio Laborers' Association. 

Owl Club. 

Irish-American Assoeiation. 

Irish Land League. 

L'Uniou Francaise (French Benevolent Association). 

Mexican Benevolent Association. 

Lias Yndesoluleles (Spanish Benevolent Society). 

Hebrew Benevolent Association. 

Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Association. 

St. Albert Benevolent Society. 

Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

St. Joseph Benevolent Society. 

St. Mary's Total Abstinence Society. 

Ladies' Parish Aid Society of the Cathedral of St. Mark. 

Altar Society of the Cathedral of St. Mark. 

Woman's Missionary Society of First Baptist Church. 

Ladies' Aid Society of M. E. Church, South. 

Sunday-school Missiouary Society of M. E. Church, South. 

Society of St. Anne. 

Ladies' Aid Society of St. John's German Lutheran Church. 

Congregatiou Belh El. 



THE ALAMO CITT GUIDE. 135 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

San Antonio ia well provided Avith secret societies and with the prospect of fur- 
ther additions to the list here presented. It is a matter of pride to the members of 
these organizations that the financial condition of each organization is sound and 
the membership of each is steadily increasing. With so many strangers constantly 
passing through the city, there are many calls on these societies for charity, and the 
total expenditures for the relief of unfortunate visitors yearly amount to a consider- 
able sum. For the benefit of visitors and members, we present a tableof the regu- 
lar meeting nights of the various secret societies in this city, which will be found 
at the conclusion of the notices of the various organizations under this head. 

MASONIC. 

The order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is one of the earliest of the 
secret societies established in this city, and has grown to large proportions. After 
owning two buildings, one of which it built, and which is tlie present County 
Court-house, it was financially wrecked by the late war, and now occupies rented 
rooms iu the third story of the Leroux & Cosgrove building, on the corner of West 
Commerce and Cocorran Streets, with entrance on Cocorran Street. The order is 
now in a better financial condition, and is increasing iu membership. Besides the 
bodies given below, there are a number of members here belonging to the Ancient 
Accepted Scottish Rite, the highest of these being Nathan H Gould, Sovereign 
Grand Inspector General 33°, formerly active member of the Supreme Council of 
the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U. S. A. The organization of bodies of this 
rite in this city has been mooted a number of times, and will probably soon be 
effected. 

The bodies of the York Rite, so called, which are working here, include two 
blue lodges, one royal arch chapter, and a commandery of Knights Templar. Under 
the laws of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, and by an arrangement made 
with it and the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas, the oflicers of 
the royal arch chapters are ex-oflacio officers of the Councils of Royal and Select 
Masters. 

ALAMO LODGE, NO. 44, F. & A. M. 

This is one of the oldest lodges in existence in this State, and was set to work 
December 1, 1847, by Stephen H. Darden, of Gonzales, then District Deputy Grand 
Master of the Fourth Masonic District, under dispensation granted by E. W. Taylor, 
then Grand Master of Masons in Texas. There were eight charter members, and 
the first W. Master was Captain James H. Ralston, then Quartermaster U. S. A., 
stationed in this city. The Senior Warden was Louis Zork, one of our oldest and 
most respected merchants, who is still living in the enjoyment of a ripe old age, 
revered and respected by all who know him. The Junior Warden was Dr. George 
A Sturgis, Surgeon U. S. A. Of the charter members all are believed to be dead 
except Mr. Louis Zork. The present membership is ninety-four, and at times num- 
bering over a hundred. 

The first few meetings of Alamo Lodge were held in the old Alamo Building, 
adjoining the church proper, and known as the Convent Building, in the room occu- 
pied by Captain Ralston as Quartermaster. The same building was afterwards fitted 
up and occupied by the late Honore Grenet as a mammoth store, aud is now under 
the management of his executor. Major Joseph E. Dwyer. The fact of the first meet- 
ings being held there no doubt suggested the name of the lodge, as well as the 
design of its seal, which is a front \'lew of the Alamo Church, name and number of 
lodge around the circle, and a square and compass beneath. 

In the following year the lodge bought, and occupied for many years, the build- 
ing now owned and occupied by Mr. George Horner as a saloon, No. 268 West 



126 THE ALAMO CITY OTTTDV 

Commerce Street. This, in time, becoming too small, the present, though com- 
pletely remodelled, Court-house Building, of three stories, stone, was erected and 
used by the lodge for several years, but the late war broke them up financially, and 
they were forced to sell it, the county becoming the purchaser. Though a financial 
wreck, the lodge preserved its existence, and now occupies the third story of the 
Leroux & Cosgrove Building, on West Commerce Street, in common with the other 
Masonic bodies of this city. 

The present otBcers are: T. R Heustis, W. M. ; P. S. Jones, S. "W.; Oscar 
Bergstrom, J. W. ; Ed. Rische, Treasurer, E. R. Norton, Secretary, J. Robinson, 
S. D. ; Frank Huntress, J. D. ; A. J. Nickerson, S. S. ; J. B. Henderson, J. S. ; E. L. 
Beaumont, Tiler. The regular meeeting night is the first Saturday in each month. 
We will only add that its present financial condition is sound. 

ANCnOR LODGE, NO. 424, F. & A. M. 

This lodge was organized June 24, 1875. by virtue of a charter granted by the 
M. W. Grand Lodc:e of Free and Accepted Masons of Texas, dated June 5, 1875. 
R. W. Brother J. H. McLeany, D. D. G. M , Sixth IVlasonic District, installed the 

officers of the lodge: Brother H. L. Bingham, W. AI. ; V. O. King, S. W. ; , 

J. W. ; E. Reed, Treasurer; W. A. Bennett, Secretary, and the lodge commenced 
their labors with twelve Master Masons. 

This lodge has a neatly enclosed cemetery, tastefully laid out, situated east of 
the city. 

It has a membership of fifty six, and is in a very promising and healthy con- 
dition. 

The present officers are: Brothers John H. Bolton, "W M ; George Eggelling, 
S. "W. ; E. B. Rankin, J. W. ; G. Schmellzer, Treasurer; D. J. Colton, Secretary. 
This lodge meets on the third Wednesday in each mouth at Masonic Hall. 

BUELESON EOTAL AKCII CHAPTER, NO. 21, A. F. & A. M. 

Officers:— T. R. Heustis, H. P.; E. R. Norton, K. ; E. Hertzberg, S. ; J. H. • 
Bolton, C. C. ; Oscar Bergstrom, P. S. ; P. S. Jones, R. A. C. ; Ed. Rische, Treas.; 
Ernest Rische, Sec'y ; L. L. Goodrich, M. 3d V. ; C. K. Reeves, M. 2d V. ; T. Brown, 
M. 1st v.; E. L Beaumont, Guard. 

It was chartered 25th day of June, 1852, by the Grand Ch^ipter of Texas, held at 
Brenham, Geo. M. Patrick the Grand High Priest, and Jas. M. Hall the Grand 
Sec'y. The first officers of Burleson Chapter were S. G. Newton, H. P. ; Jas. Vance, 
K. ; A. A. LocUwood, S. 

The present membership is fifty-four, and it is in a very flourishing condition. 

SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL, NO. 14, R. & S. MASTERS. 

Was chartered June 23, 1859, and continued to wo:k in council until 1864, when 
they merged with the Burleson Chapter. 

SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERT, NO. 7. K. T. 

This body was organized June 15, 1853. The present membership is seventy- 
two knights. 

The officers for 1883 are : John Walsh, E. C. ; Phil. Shardein, G.; H. Kaiber, 
C. G. ; J B. Hamilton, Recorder. 

The Commandery is one of the most flourishing in Texas, and is steadily 
gaining strength, and its financial standing is A. No. 1. The stated Conclaves are 
held in Masonic Hall, on the last Saturday of each month. 

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE. 

There are no bodies of this Rite at present established here, but there is a prob- 
ability that a Lodge of Perfection will soon be organized. Tiie following members 
of the Rite reside in this city : N. H. Gould 33°. Stephen Gould 32 , W. R. Freeman 
32°, E. H. Terrell 32°, J. II. Smye 32°, Geo. Maverick 32°, John H. Bolton 32°, P. 
B. Freer 32', and Geo. S. Chabot 16°. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 127 



Odd Fellowship is represented in the Alamo City by San Antonio Lodge, No. 11; 
by Bexar Encampment, No. 11, and by Miriam Lodge, No. 24, Daughters ofRebekah. 

BAN ANTONIO LODGE NO. 11, 

Was instituted on the 21st of July, 1849, by the installation of the following 
officers, viz.: Isaac T. Winnemore, N. G ; J. J. Giddings, V. G.; J. T. Yarrington, 
Se.Tetary ; and George G. Craig, treasurer ; of whom Mr. Winnemore is believed to 
be the only survivor now. The Lodge, during its existence, has admitted by initia- 
tion and card, 404 members, which number has been reduced by death, expulsion, 
suspensions, and withdrawals, and at the present time there are 111 in good standing. 
Otherwise the Lodge is in a most prosperous condition, and owns pi'operty to the 
value of $'3(J,000, nearly all paid for, and has an income from rental of f 1,650 per 
annum. 

Some years ago a German Lodge, known as Schiller Lodge, No. 104, was 
organized, but it had only a brief existence. To the surprise of every one, the 
Germans in this instance did not come up to their proverbial perseverence in matters 
undertaken by them. Some of our very best fellow citizens of German descent were 
among the membership of this Lodge ; nevertheless it did nut reach maturity. 

The Odd Fellows Hall is a fine three-story rock building, situated on the corner 
of Houston and St. Mary Streets, where all the lines of street railroads pass every 
few minutes during the day, and late into the night. This building is the head- 
quarters of many of the secret organizations of this city, the location being at 
once central and cool. 

A. o. u. w. 

The Ancient Order of United Workmen was introduced into this city in 
February, 1877, by the organization of Milam Lodge, No. 2, with a membership 
of twenty. This Lodge has increased its membership to sixty-three, and during its 
existence has lost but one member by death, to whose widow was paid the amount 
of the beneficiary guaranteed on death of a member — viz., $3,000. 

The objects of this Order are: "To strive earnestly to improve the moral, intel- 
lectual, and social condition of its members; to endeavor by wholesome precepts, 
fraternal admonitions, and substantial aid,, to inspire a due appreciation of the stern 
realities and responsibilities of life; to create a fund for the benefit of its members 
during sickness or other disability; and in case of death, to pay a stipulated sum 
($2,0(i0) to such person or persons as may be designated by each member, thus 
enabling him to guarantee his family against want." 

Tiie Order was lurther advanced iu this city in April, 1882, by the organiza- 
tion of Bexar Lodge, No. — , which has a membership of forty. 

Milam Lodge, No. 2, meets at Odd Fellows Hall, on first and third Monday in 
each month. 

Bexar Lodge, No. — , meets in Firemen's Hall, on first and third Saturdays in 
each month. 

On June 27, 1882, a Legion of Select Knights of the A. O. U. W. was orga- 
nized under the name of Union Legion S. K., No. — , with a membership of 
eighteen. This branch of the Order guarantees to the member's family an addi- 
tional $1,000 in case of death. 

KNIGHTS OF HONOR. 

This Order, though young, is in a very flourishing condition. The various 
bodies of the Order meet in the Odd Fellows Building. The following lodges are 
working in this city: 

Sunset Lodge, No. 1136, K. of H. Organized July 5. 1878. 

Mission Lodge, No. 1614 K. of H. Organized May 27, 1879. 

Schleicher Lodge, No. 1905, K of H. Organized December 1, 1879. 

Alamo Lodge, No. 206, K and L. of H. Organized November 17, 1879. 

SUNSET LODGE, NO. 1136, KNIGHTS OF HONOR, 

was organized the 5th day of July, 1878, Dr A. E. Carotliers, Dictator. Dr. R. 
Menger, Reporter, and Hon. Chas. L. Wurzbach, Past Dictator. There were 



128 THK ALAMO CITY GUIDE 

twelve charter members. The Lodge has had a steady growth, and is now the 
strongest organization of the kind in the city, having over one hundred members 
on the roll and a considerable amount of money (surplus fund) at interest. 

Eug Phillippe is the present Dictator, and Dr. J. E. Breeding, Reporter. 

Eegular meeting nights, second and fourth Mondays in each month, at Odd 
Fellows Hall, on corner Houston and St. Mary's Streets. 

LEGION OF HONOR. 

This Order is also in a very flourishing condition, and also meets in the Odd 
Fellows Building. The following councils are working in this city: 
Star Council, No. 2?-l, L. of H. Organized July 8, 1880. 
Alamo Council, No. 466, L. of H. Organized March 17, 1881. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

A number of years ago a Lodge of this Order was instituted here, but after a 
short existence succumbed to internal dissensions, and was dropped from the roll 
of the Grand Lodge. 

On the 13th of April, 1882, the efforts of local members of the Order were 
crowned with success, and Elk Lodge, No. 35, K. of P.. was duly instituted, and 
set to work under very promising circumstances. The Castle Hall is located in what 
is commonly known as Firemen's Hall, on Market Street, in the building occupied 
by Milam Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 1. This body is now in a very flourish- 
ing condition, and meets every Thursday evening. 

INDEPENDENT OKDER B'NAI BRITH. 

This Order is confined to those of the Hebrew faith, and the Lodge, which is 
financially sound, meets in the Odd Fellows Building. This Lodge is known as 
Edar Lodge, No. 211, I. O. B'Nai Brith. Organized June 20, 1874. 

SECRET 60CIETT MEETINGS. 

First Monday.— Milam, No. 2, A. O .U. W. 

First Tuesday.— San Antonio, No. 11, I O. O. F. 

First Wedue&daj'.— Alamo, No. 206, K. & L. of H. 

First Thursday.— Harmonia, No. 1, O. D H. S.— Elk, No. S5, K. of P. 

First Friday. — Bexar Encampment, No. 11, 1. O. O F. 

First Saturday.— Alamo, No. 44, A. F. & A. M.— Star, No. 231, L. of H.— Bexar 
Lodge, A. O. U. W. 

Second Sunday . —Edar, No. 211, I. O. B'NhI Brith. 

Second Monday.— Sunset, No. 1136, K. of H. 

Second Tuesday. — San Antonio, No. 11, I O. O. F. 

Second Wednesday.— Alamo, No 206, K. &L. of H.— Alamo, No. 466, L. of H. 

Second Thursday.— Harmonia, No. 1, O. D. H. S.— Elk, No. 35, K. of P. 

Second Friday.— Mission, No. 1614, K. of H. 

Second Saturday.- Burleson R. A. Chapter, No. 21. — Schleicher, No. 1905, 
K. of H. 

Third Monday.— Milam, No. 2, A. O. TJ. W. 

Third Tuesday.— San Antonio, No. 11, I. O. O. F. 

Third Wednesday.— Anchor, No. 424, A. F. & A. M. 

Third Thursday.- Harmonia, No. 1, O. D, H. S.— Elk, No. 35, K. of P 

Third Friday.— Bexar Encampment, No. 11, I. O. O. F. 

Third Saturday.— Star, No. 2;^, L. of H.— Bexar Lodge, A. O. U. W, 

Fourth Sunday.— S. A. Typographical Union, No. 172.— Edar, No. 211, I. O. 
B'Nai Brith. 

Fourth Mondav.— Sunset, No. 1136, K. of H. 

Fourth Tuesday.— San Antonio, No. 11, I. O. O. F. 

Fourth Wednesday. — Alamo, No. 466, L. of H. 

Fourth Thursday.— Harmonia, No. 1. O. D H. S.— Elk, No. 35, K. of P. 

Fourth Friday.— Mission, No. 1614, K. of H. 

Fourth Saturday. — San Antonio Commandery, K. T. — Schleicher, No, 1905, 
K. of H. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 129 



A PECL-LIAR INSTITUTION. 



Cock-figbting may well be designated as a peculiar institulion of old San 
Antonio, and one tliat is not forgotten to day, though it is not so pubUcly 
engaged in as formerly. There are citizens now living in this city wiio can 
remember when, on Sunday afternoons, a cock-pit would be improvised on 
the Main Plaza, in front of tlie Cathedral of San Fernando, and priest and people 
made up the audience, and were the aciive participants in Ihe then innocent sport, 
as it was called. Those were the days when the bulk of the population of the city, 
on summer evenings, would resort to the beautiful little river whicli meinders 
through the city and enjoy a bath without the intervention of bath-houses, the days 
of luxurious nature unadorned, and uncontaminated as well; when there were but 
three houses two stories high in the place, and the march of progress and public 
improvement had not destroyed the beauty and freshness of the natural paradise that 
stretched out en all sides of the quaint old Spanish town. 

Times change, and with this change opinion is also remodelled to suit the new 
surroundings. The Vesper Service is no more followed by a public cock-fight on the 
Plaza, and those who still delight in this relic of earlier days are compelled to go to 
more remote localities. There are still several cock-pits in this city, but the largest 
of these is located in an open building, about sixty by sixty feet, roofed over, and sur- 
rounded by a high fence, on the corner of Dolorosa and Laredo Streets, on the line 
of the street railway leading to the International Railway depot, the entrance being 
through a bar room, kept by a Mexican. There mains are fought nearly every Sun 
day afternoon, and, although the audience is nearly always a large and excited one, 
yet there is rarely any breach of peace committed there. ' The following report of a 
fight is taken from the San Antonio Evening Light : 

"The next contest was after the approved Mexican style, with slashers or knives — 
a contest that means death to one, if not both, the feathered gladiators. 

" One of the birds entered for this fight was the property of a blind Mexican 
beggar known to all our citizens, who stands on week days on street corners or on 
the Ibridges, holding out his hand asking of the passers-by, 'Five cente for a poor 
bline man.' He squatted down near the entrance of the pit, and the little boy that 
acts as his eyes reported the progress of the match, and he gave the boy the money 
for the stakr, amounting to two or ihree dollars. No ripple of excitenie'::t seemed to 
pass over his stolid face, and he seemed as deeply interested in all that was going 
on as if he had a pair of the best eyes in the world. To this poor, sightless man the 
cock-pit was a perfect enjuyment. lie neither saw the crowd nor the fight, but in his 
imagination he could ])iciure it in the liveliest colors. Each bird was taken in 
charge of and a knife placed over one spur, securely tied with waxed thread. The 
fastening on of a gaff or slasher is an art, and upon the proper adjustment of the 
instrument greatly depends the success of the fight; it must be placed as near as pos- 
sible in the position of the natural spur, and, being about two inches long, is likely 
to hamper the bird in his movements. One person holds the bird while the other 
adjusts the instrument with the utmost care. 

" All being in readiness, a judge is chosen, and the gladiators are taken into the 
pit, when a little preliminary sparring is allowed, and then the birds are turned 
loose. The figlit we have just mentioned, between the blind man's bird and some 
other, resulted in favor of tiie beggar, who received the money with apparent philo- 
sophic temper; his bird was hurt, but not killed, while the other was killed. The 
killing of a chicken in this style is not much worse than wringing his neck, while 
he meets his death in the pursuit of a natural instinct, as it is plain a game cock would 
rather fight than eat." 



130 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
BREATHING PLACES. 

San Antonio is a city of parks and plazas. The celebrated Alamo Plaza, which 
was originally the enclosure about the Alamo Mis^sion and afterwards Fort Alamo, 
is a large, open space, which can be made a beautiful spot with fountains and monu- 
ments and statuary commemorative of the historic events which have taken place 
on that hallowed ground. At present there is a small fountain in the centre of the 
Plaza, and another more pretentious fountain is proposed to be erected there. There 
is also an Alamo Monument Association, with a long list of officers and members, 
including nearly all the principal citizens of the city, but at present they have takeu 
no decided f tops towards erecting the monument, although they are at work collect- 
ing funds for this laudable object. 

The Main Plaza is another large, open space in front of the Catholic Cathedral of 
San Fernando, which was the old" parish church of the ancient city; here, again, is 
seen what might be done, and what will be done in the luture, to beautify and add 
to the attractiveness of this city. 




SAN PEDRO SPRINGS.— THE LAKE. 

The Military Plaza is immediately to the rear of the Catholic Cathedral, which 
extends from the Main to the Military Plazas. The only attempt at beautifying this 
is in the erection of a beautiful little fountain in the centre of the Plaza, the foun- 
tain being the gift of ex- Alderman Ed. Steves. In time other attempts at ornamen- 
tation will be made, and its present bare aspect will be relieved. 

West of the San Pedro Creek, on a high plain, immedintely south of the St. 
Mary's Hospital, is San Pedro Plaza, which can, and probably will, be made a beau- 
tiful sDot by the planting of shade trees, etc. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



131 



There are also numerous other large open places marked on the map of the city, 
all of which can be made very beautiful with a little care and at a small outlay. One 
of these, Travis Park, has already been made a very beautiful and deliojhtfui place, 
merely by the judicious planting and care of shade trees well adapted to our semi- 
tropical climate. The other parks will be taken in hand in time, and in turn will 
amply repay the outlay and care expended on them. 

Of beer gardens there is no lack, but these are private enterprises and in the 
way of trade, merely showing that their proprietors are alive to the comfort as well 
as accommodation of their customers. On every side are found spots which can be 
made very attractive, and among these is the Central Garden, which has several 
times been laid out as a mammoth beer garden and pleasure gi-ound, but it now 
lacks a tenant. With the river almost surrounding it in its tortuous windings, and with 




SAN PEDRO SPRINGS. -HEAD SPRING. 



hill and plain within its limits, an enterprising man with experience in such matters 
could make it the favorite city resort, 

SAN PEDRO PARK. 

The park which has been most developed and beautified here is the San 
Pedro Park. This delightful and popular resort is situated about a mile north of 
the Main and Military Plazas, and is the present terminus of the street railway. 
Here, too, the office of the company, with the construction shops, car-houses, and 
principal stables, are also located. This park was originally a large grove of beau- 
tiful pecan trees around the head springs of the San Pedro Creek. It is city prop- 
erty, specially dedicated to the public, and is leased by the city for a term of years 
to Mr. R. Kerble, formerly of San Francisco, Cal., part of his contract being to 
keep up the existing improvements and to add to them each year during his occu- 
pation of the premises. The former lessee, the late G. A. Duerler, made the beau- 
tifying of this grove the special work of the latter part of his life. He caused 
numerous little ponds and lakes to be excavated, and so connected by small covered 
water-ways with the bead springs that they are always supplied with pure water, in 



133 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



whose clear depths are seen rare fish sporting among the beautiful ferns which cover 
the bottom of ponds, save where other springs boil up and add fresh water from 
artesian sources. 

The main lake is quite a large body of water, with foot bridge across it, and 
immediately connected with the head springs, while numerous other springs feed it 
from the bottom and cause the water to be beautifully clear and delightfully cool 
even during the tropical heat of our summer months. In this lake are several roman- 
tic little islands, which can be visited by means of the pleasure boats which are kept 
here. The shores are well wooded, and the banks are covered to the water's edge 
with beautiful tropical aquatic plants, which abound in this vicinity. The numer- 
ous walks, with their well-kept borders, lead to many little retreats, and by beds of 
beautiful flowers. Here the tropical banana grows wild, and waves its long and 
broad leaves in the delightful breeze which blows here almost continuous'y. On tbe 
eastern shores of the lake is the pecan grove, and under the noble old trees are 




SAN PEDRO SPRINGS. -TROPICAL GARDENS. 



tables and benches for the use of patrons. Here also are the two-story band-stand, 
the dancing pavillion, a beer saloon, and numerous other small buildings. 

The head springs are the wonder and admiration of visitors, for here the San 
Pedro Creek gushes forth from the rocky and fern covered bottoms of the two pools 
and merrily goes on its way to feed the old San Pedro Acequia, or in igation ditch, 
and swell the current of the San Antonio River at the southern boundary of the 
city. A bath-house has been erected at the larger spring, and here a cool and very 
refreshing bath can be enjoyed for a moderate fee. One of the illustrations in this 
book shows the smaller spring, where a cooling drink of pure water from artesian 
depths can be enjoyed. Another of our illustrations is an admirable view of the 
lake taken from the larger head spring, and looking south, sliowing one of the little 
islands and the foot bridge which crosses the lake at about its centre. This illus- 
tration was made from a photograph made some years ago, and does not show all of 
the present improvements of the lake and its shores. The last of our illustrations 
shows the tropical garden, which contains many beautiful and wonderful specimens 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 133 

of cacti, as well as other plants, which have no protection durins^ the most severe 
winter weather known here. This is also taken from an old photograph, and does 
not show the recent improvements that have been made here. The building imme- 
diately in the rear of the garden is the main pavillion, where the wants of tne inner 
man are supplifd with both liquid and solid refreshment. This building has been 
thoroughly relitted and beauafied by the present lessee, who is constantly adding to 
the attractions of this delightful retreat. The first lessee. Mr. Duerler, died here 
before the termination of his lease, and was buried at the end of a well-wooded walk 
in a spot selected by him for this purpose. Over his remains is a granite monument, 
erected to his memory by the citizens of San Antonio. After his decease, the 
improvements which he erected in this park were suffered to go to decay, but the 
present lessee is taking a live interest in not only keeping up the original improve- 
ments, but also adding to them in a very liberal and public-spirited manner. No one 
should visit San Antonio without visiting this popular resort. On Sunday after- 
noons it is especially crowded, and every night it is well lighted, and with the band 
playing and the dancing pavillion well filled with graceful dancers, no more pleasant 
place can be found to pass a few hours in harmless recreation. South of and adjoin- 
ing the San Pedro Park, is the racing park, with an admirable track, which is kept 
in excellent order, and where numerous races take place. Property in this vicinity 
has rapidly advanced in value, and numerous fine residences have been and are being 
erected here. In time it is predicted that this portion of the city will become the 
fashionable quarter of San Antonio, and building lots will command very high 
prices. 



134 THE ALAMO CITY GXJIDK 



CHAPTER XX. 

THE VISITOR'S GUIDE. 

The visitor to this city who carefully reads the foregoing pages will have a 
very good idea of the principal points of interest and what there is to be seen liere. 
The next point is how to employ the time of a brief stay in the city to the best 
advantage, so as to include visits to all parts of the city and its historic surround- 
ings. Let us suppose the visitor is on the cars approaching the city; of course, the 
first point of importance is the selection of a hotel or boarding-house, and this 
should be done before arriving at the depot in this city. To such a one the follow- 
ing descriptions of the principal hotels will be of value. 

MENGER HOTEL. 

The oldest of the hotels in this city is the celebrated and now thoroughly 
remodelled Menger Hotel. This admirable hostelrie was erected, and for years was 
managed by the late Wm. Menger, and on his decease was continued for several 
years by his widow, assisted by her son, Mr. W. P. Menger. It has now been leased 
by Mr. Frank P. Hord, late proprietor of Ilord's Hotel, San Antonio, and with 
extensive experience in the hotel business prior to his coming to this city, and Mr. 
Curlis Davis, late proprietor of the Bingham House, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Tiie hotel building has received extensive additions ; has been fully refitted and 
refurnished, and has all the modern improvements common to first-class hotels in 
the large cities of the north. Its location is admirable, being opposite the Post- 
office, on Alamo Plaza, a few steps from the historic Alamo and like points of 
interest to visitors, and with the street-cars passing in front of it every few minutes 
during the day and until late at night. This is also the largest hotel in Western 
Texas. The charges are moderate, and the accommodations first-class. 

VANCE HOTEL. 

Here, again, we have another strictly first-class hotel, and very favorably 
located for visitors. It fronts on Houston and St. Mary's Streets, directly opposite 
Turner Hall and the Odd Fellows Building. Also with all the various lines of 
street railway passing its doors, thus affording easy and quick communication with 
any portion of the city and suburbs. It is also near the principal bridges over the 
river; is near the business centre; is immediately between and about equally distant 
from the Alamo and Main and Military Plazas— hand}'^ for those who come here for 
business or for pleasure; quiet and cool, yet central; near all the churches; it 
combines the elements needed in hotel home. The proprietor, Mr. E. C. Everett, 
has made this hotel his hobby, and guests can rely on receiving first-class accom- 
modations at reduced rates. The table has the reputation of being one of the best 
provided and served in Western Texas. Terms, $3 per day. Reduced rates by the 
week or month. Guests arriving by trains at either depot can take the horse-cars 
and be. carried to this hotel for five cents. 



THE AliAMO CITY GUIDE. 



135 



hord's hotel. 
Tli'is is also another of the first-class hotels of San Antonio, and is situated on 
the square extending from the Main to the Military Plazas, on the very centre-point 
of the city tract, and immediately south of the Catholic Cathedral of San Fernando, 
which was the old parish church of the early inhabitants, and from whose tower 
was displayed the blood-red fla^ of the Mexican butcher, Santa Anna, at the time 
of the storming of the Alamo and the massacre of its heroic defenders. The loca- 
tion is at once high and cool, while it is at the same time in the very centre of the 
business portion of the city, with the depot line of horse cars passing it on two 




HORD'S HOTEL. 



sides every few minutes during the day and until late at night. This hotel has also 
been refitted and refurnished, and is fully supplied with all the modern conve- 
niences. It has recently passed into new hands, the proprietors being old and 
experienced as well as popular hotel men. 

Besides those already mentioned, there are the Maverick, also on Houston 
Street; the Central, on Main Plaza, oppposite Hord's, and a number of other smaller 
hotels and numerous boarding-houses. Indeed we doubt if there is a city in Amer- 
ica better provided with flrst-class boarding-houses than San Antonio in proportion 
to population. 

HACK REGULATIONS. 

Having selected a hotel, the vis'tor next needs information as to the hack regu 
lations in this city, and for tbe purpose of giving this information, a portion of the 
hack ordinance is printed containing all the city ordmance of interest to visitors: 

Revised Ordinances of the City of San Antonio, pages 67, 68, and 69; Chapter 27. 

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of San Antonio: That 
the following tariff of prices, which shall be posted in a conspicuous place in such 
hacks, is hereby established for licensed hacks and carriages for hire in this city, 
which the person or persons owning, driving, or controlling the same are hereby 
authorized to charge; and it shall be unlawful for such person or persons to ask or 
receive more than the rates and terms hereby established: 

(1.) For carrying each person or passenger a distance not to exceed one-half of 
a mile, twenty-five cents; when there are more than two passengers going to the 
same destination, seventy-five cents for all. 



136 TUE AliAMO CITT GUIDE. 

(2.) For each person or passenger a distance not to exceed one mile, fifty cents; 
where there are more than two passengers going to the same destination, not more 
than one dollar and twenty-five ceuts for all. 

(3.) For each and I'vrry person or passenger to a distance of over one mile, to 
any point inside of the ciLy limits, seventy-five cents; for two or more passengers 
going to the same desiuialion. one dollar and fifty cents for all. 

(4 ) When passengers desire to remain not more tlian ten minntes after reaching 
their destination, and then return, the hacks or c.irriages carrying them shall be 
required to wait said time for them, and the passenger or passengers shall be required 
to pay one half of the fare and sum herein established for their return trip, except 
when there is but one passenger going not over one-half mile, in which case he shall 
pay twenty-five cents for the return trip. 

(o ) That no extra charge shall be made for carrying baggage of a passenger 
if the same does not exceed seventy-five pounds in weight, or one trunk not exceed- 
ing one hundred pounds in weight, and for extra baggage, the person or persons 
in charge of such hack or carriage conveying the same, may demand twenty-five 
cents for each truiik, or for one hundred pounds or fraction thereof. 

(G.) When any hack or carriage is hired for or used for an hour or more, the 
owner or driver or person in charge of the same, may charge one dollar and fifty 
cents for the first hour, and one dollar for every subsequent hour that the same may 
be used or employed by the same person or persons, and for attendance upon 
funerals the charge shall be by the hour, at the rale herein before established. 

(7.) That after ten o'clock P.M., andb:'fore five o'clock A. M , the owner, driver, 
or person in charge of any hack or carriage, may charge fifty cents per hour more 
than the rates herein established for the carriage of passengers, but shall not charge 
more than two dollars for the first, hour, and one dollar and a half for each subse- 
quent hour that the same may be u«ed or emploj'-ed by the same person or persons. 

8ec 2. That whenever any hack or carriage for hire may be unemployed, it 
fihall be the duty of the owner, driver, or person in charge of :?uch hack or carriage, 
and they are hereby required to carry any person or persons who wish it to any 
parr of this city for the sums and rates herein before established, and it shall be 
unlawful for them to refuse to do so. 

Sec. 3. That any person or persons refusing to pay the fares, as herein estab- 
lished, after being carried to their destination or place wnere they leave such hack 
or carriage, if demanded without delay by the owner, driver, or person in charge of 
such hack or carriage, shall be guilty of disorderly conduct, and fined not less than 
one, nor more than five dollars for each oll'ence, or, in default of payment, shall be 
imprisoned for not less than one nor more than ten days. 

Sec. 4. That any person or persons viohiting any of the provisions of sections 
1, 2, or 3, shall be fined not less than one dollar, nor more than ten dollars for each 
and every offence, or, in default of payment, be imprisoned not less than one nor 
more than five days. 

Sec. 5. That all hacks, carts, drays, and carriages for hire shall take such stand 
upon the plazas of this city as may be assigned to them by the Marshal, Assistant 
Marshal, or police of this city, and it shall be unlawful for them to refuse or neglect 
to do so. 

Sec. 6. That it shall be unlawful for any hack or carriage for hire, cart, or dray, 
unless loading or receiving, or unloading pa.ssengers or goods, to remain alongside 
or within fifty feet of the sidewalks of any of the plazas of this city. 

Sec. 7. That any and all licensed hack-drivers shall furnish and keep to each 
licensed hack or carriage used in the city limits two side-lights or lanterns, to be 
u-;ed at night as long as the hack or carriage shall remain employed after night, 
except upon bright moonlight nights; and any person failing to comply with this 
section shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum not less than three dollars, nor more 
than ten dollars, or in default of payment, be committed to the City Jail for not less 
than three days, nor more than five days. 

OTHER CITY REGULATIONS. 

This is as good a time as any for the visitor to be informed as to other city 
regulations which are of importance to be remembered. 

Fast Driving. — Section 11 of Chapter 25 of the Revised Ordinances, page 66, 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE 137 

says: "If any person;, or persons shall, upon the plazas, streets, or other highways 
of the city, immoderately ride or drive, eitlier under the saddle, in harness, or 
otherwise' any horse or other animal or animals, or shall so ride or drive as to en- 
danger the safety of any person or persons, or shall ride or drive on tlie side-walks 
or banquets of the eity, such person or persons shall be deemed guilty of an otTence, 
and it shall be the duly of the police of the city to, and anv person may, at once 
stop and arrest such person or pert-ons." The penalty is a tine not less than five 
dollars nwr more than two hundred dollars. 

IIiTCHi"NG HoKSES. — Rings are placed in the curbstones at convenient distances, 
and there are also hitching-posts for the convenience of riders and drivers. There 
is a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for tying 
horses or other animals to lamp-posts, or in alleys, about the city. 

Bridges. — Walk your horse when crossing a bridge, and do not ride, drive, or 
lead any animal or vehicle across a foot-bridge. There are no signs to this effect at 
the bridges, but, nevertheless, those who violate this law lay themselves liable 
to a fine of not less than (>ne dollar nor more than twenty-five dollars for each 
violation or attempted, violation. 

Dogs. — Dogs must be licensed, and wear a collar bearing the license tag on it. 
The fee is fifty cents for each dog, and must be paid to the City Collector, who will 
furnish the tag. 

BAxniNG IN THE RivER AND Other STREAMS. — There are a number of bath- 
liouses located along the river and at the San Pedro Springs, some of which are for 
public use, the usual charge being twenty-five cents, or as the citizens express it, " two 
bits," for a bath, where visitors and others can find every accommodation for a 
plunge in the cooling waters. If these are not used the bather must select a locality 
not visible from a highway or from a residence, under the penalty of a fine of not 
less than two dollars, nor more than five dollars for each offence. 

Deadly Weapons. — Chapter XIII. of the Revised City Ordinances, page 38 
and o9, provides as follows : 

" Section I. If any person shall, within the corporate limits of this city, carry 
about his or her person a bowie knife, dirk, butcher knife, or razor, or any fire 
arms known as a six-shooter or pistol of any kind, or having about his or her person 
what is known as brass knuckles, slung shot, club, loaded or sword cane, or any 
other weapon manufactured or sold for the purpose of offence or defence, and cap- 
able of intiicting death or great bodily injury, such person shall be deemed guilty 
of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before the Recorder of the city, 
shall be fined in a sum of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hun- 
dred dollars, and in default of payment shall be confined in the City Prison, cr 
placed at hard labor upon the public works of the city, for not less than twenty-five 
nor more than thirty days, to be determined by the Recorder ; provided, that this 
ordinance shall not apply to any legally authorized conservator of the peace, when 
he may be in the legal discharge of his duty. 

" Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of all civil officers from other counties than 
Bexar, visiting San Antonio, olficially or otherwise, who have authority to wear 
arms, shall, upon arriving in the city, report to the Mayor, who shall examine 
their papers as to their rigiit to wear arms, and endorse the same; otherwise to be 
dealt with as the lavv directs." 

The State law on this subject is even more severe in its penalties, and also 
provides for the confiscation of the weapon. Officers are very vigilant in i>rose- 
cuting violators of this law, and it is hardly possible for offenders to escape detec- 
tion and punishment both in the city and State courts. Visitors should remenib- r 
that San Antonio ranks as one of the best-governed cities in America. The citizens 
are law-abiding, intelligent, and refined. They are compcsed of representatives of 
every nationality in the civilized world, an^i with accessions from all of the older 
States of the Union. Human life and personal property are as safe here as in any 
of the cities of America or Europe, and compared with many far more pretentious 
cities, San Antonio occupies the first rank for the maintenance cf law and order. 
There is therefore no cause for visitors to marcii ab'Ut the streets armed as if they 
were in a state of siege, and those who thus violate the law will surely be punished. 



138 THE ALAMO CITY GUrDE. 

WAKD BOTJNDARIES. 

The City of San Antonio contains thirty-six square miles in its limits, and is 
divided info four wards. The San Antonio River and Commerce Street and its 
continuations are the ward boundaries. West of the river and south of the centre 
of Commerce and Presidio Streets is ward Number One; west of the river and north 
of the centre of Commerce and Presidio Streets is ward Number Two; east of the 
river and north of the centre of Commerce and Alameda Streets is ward Number 
Three; and east of the river and south of the centre of Commerce and Alameda 
Streets is ward Number Four. 

HOUSE NUMBERS. 

For the purpose of numbering the houses in this city, the following rules have 
been adopted by the City Council: 

Commerce Street and its continuations divide the city north and south; and 
the San Antonio River divides the city east and west. 

Eacli street is designated as north or south, according as it is north or south of 
Commerce Street and its continuations. 

Each street crossing the river is designated east or west, according as it is east 
cr west of the river 

On such streets as do not cross or commence at Commerce Slreet and its con- 
tinuations or the river, the numbers begin at the end nearest said division lines. 

One hundred numbers are assigned to each block, the odd numbers being on 
the north and west sides of the streets. Thus from 1 to 100 West Commerce Street 
will be iu the first block or square on Commerce Street west of tiie river, and 
from 200 to 299 will be in the second block or square from the river. 

THE FIRST DAY. 

Let us suppose the visitor arrived on a night train and went at once to his hotel. 
Rising at early dawn the next morning after a refreshing night's sleep he should 
proceed at once to the Military Plaza, and see one of the distinctive features of San 
Antonio, the Plaza market. The Plaza is a large open square surrounded by busi- 
ness houses and crossed by the street railway. On the east side of the Plaza, after 
leaving room for the passage of vehicles between the curbstone and the central 
space, are long lines of tables for the sale of vegetables, etc., and here one can pur- 
chase fresh vegetables during the entire year. The butter, poultry, and eggs 
department is located on the north of the vegetable stands, while south of them are 
the Mexican lunch tables, where one can get a genuine Mexican breakfast with as 
good hot coffee as can be found in the city. Those who delight in the Mexican 
luxuries of tamales, chilli con came, and enchiladas, can find them here cooked in 
the open air in the rear of the tables and served by lineal descendants of the ancient 
Aztecs. All the tables are without roofs, so that a pleasant morning must be selected 
for this visit in order to make it enjoyable; but rain or shine the tables are there 
and served by their regular attendants, who reap a considerable profic from their 
business. 

The west side of the central portion of the Plaza to the rear of the tables is reserved 
for the wood, cotton, wool, hay, grain, and produce wagons, and a walk among them 
will prove very attractive as well as instructive to the visitor. The wr:gons are 
placed in perfect order and lines, so as to preserve the adjacent street lines, and 
along these are found Mexicans squatted on the ground before small squares of 
cloth or ctinvas on which are small piles of the Mexican necessaries, peppers, and 
wild fruits, and nuts iu their season. The bird peddlars are also here iu full force 
with their cagps of mocking birds and Mexican canaries and car<iinal red bird^. 
Visitors can purchase these quite cheaply if they will adopt the rule to offer a half 
of the asking price of the peddlars. Mexican women monopolize the bird selling 
and are adepts at it. Indeed the Mexican women are as a rule better traders than 
the men. 

The visitor should remember that he is now on historic ground, which has been 
baptized and rebaptized time and time again with the blood of heroes contending 
for principles which they deemed of vital importance to the cause of freedom. East 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 139 

of the centre of the Phaza stands the old Cathedral of San Fernando, from whose 
tower, now torn down to make room for the new portion of the sacred edifice, was 
displayed the blood red flag of Santa Anna, which told the heroes of the Alamo 
their doom, and nerved them to perform such deeds of valor as have placed them in 
the front rank of the martyrs to tue cause of liberty. A reference to the chapter on 
the religious history of the city in the foregoing pages will give a bc-tter idea of the 
old cathedral, but the visitor should not neglect tlie opportunity to exaniice the 
quaint carving on the old doorways of the old part or sanctuary of the church which 
fronts on this Plaza. In t!ie olden time the Indians when on the war path were 
accustomed to dash on this Plaza from the western hills, and thence through the old 
town, slaying or making captives all whom they met, and then retire to the 
prairies wlUi such plunder as they had managed to capture. Indeed as late as the 
year 1857, Indians were troublesome in the vicinity of the citv- but that is now a 
mere remembrance of the past. The red men have been forced to the west, and their 
numbers are so depleted that they are held in check on the western borders of the 
State fully five hundred miles away. • 

Having seen the morning market on the Plaza and examined the exterior of the 
Mexican Cathedral, it will now be time for breakfast, reserving vlsitmg the city 
meat markets for another morning. Proceeding to your hotel it will be well to 
decide on the points to be visited during the day, so that as soon as the morning 
meal is finished the necessary contract with the hackman can be made. On the 
selection of a driver depends much of the enjoyment of a ride. A hackman who 
knows the country thoroughly is of much more value than one who only knows the 
principal drives, and by conversing with a well-informed driver much general 
information of the country can be gained which could not be included in the limits 
of a book of this character. Among the various livery stable men in this city we can 
recommend Messrs. Carter & Mullaly, whose stable is on the east side of the Alamo 
Plaza, immediately north of the Menger Hotel. (See advertisement.) The usual 
prices here are: for saddle horse, half a day, morning or afternoon, $1.00; for a "hack, 
outside city limits, $1 50 for first hour, and $1 00 for each subsequent hour; for 
carriage or buggy, one horse, half a day, morning or afternoon, $3.00; for carriage 
or buggy, two horses, half a day, morning or afternoon, $5.00. 

Having made your contract for your conveyance for a morning drive to fhe 
Missions, proceed down Afamo Street by the Villeta store, which was formerly in a 
Mexican village called La Villeta, and was the location of the headquarters of Santa 
Anna at the lime of the seige of the Alamo. Soon you will c )me to beautiful private 
residences, and then to fertile fields where the wealth of Texas agriculture may be 
seen. Thence the course is along the prairies, which have mainly been fenced for 
pasturage of Texas stock. On reaching the Missions in their order if you are not 
familiar with the preceeding chapters read carefully the first part of Chapter II., 
and also on pages 11 and 12. In returning get driver to take a different road from 
the one you went, so as to give you a better idea of the country. Three Missions 
are all you will care to visit, and that will require the entire morning. 

AFTERNOON, 

On arriving at your hotel, it will be time for you to prepare for dinner, and 
after that meal is over carefully read the description of the Alamo in Chapter II., 
and pages 17 to 23. Then walk to the Alamo, and Major Dwyer will take pleasure 
in having you shown through the premises. Attached to the store is a very interesting 
collection of stuffed animals and birds of Texas, prepared by Mr. Tudo, a French- 
man living on the Medina River, about twelve miles south of the city. An hour 
can be very profitably passed here, and then you can return to your hotel, and 
make your arrangements for a drive to the Military Headquarters and Quarter- 
master's Depot (See Chapter III.), and after having a view from the Look-out Tower, 
drive to the McLane Villa, and see the wonderful headspring of the river, and 
thence home over the hills by the Poor House and San Pedro Park. 

EVENING. 

Supper bein^ properly attended to, the evening can be passed in a visit to San 
Pedro Park, which, if on a special occasion, will well repay the visit. Now 
home again, and early to bed for an early start on the morrow. 



140 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



SECOND DAY. 



Rise at day-break and visit the city meat marljet on Market Street, near the 
Main Plaza, and thence to the Veraraendi House, on Soledad Street, just beyond the 
County Court House, on the same side of the street. Our visitors must remember 
that San Antonio was an old Mexican town ; that tlie houses were mostly of the 
old Mexican style— flat roofs and thick walls. These houses have been largely 
supplanted by modern buildings, or modified so as to change their looks. The 
building has undergone some changes, but the old carved door is there still, and the 
visitor will recognize it as a curious relic of the past ; it is pierced with bullet holes 
made during the battle when the town was stormed in 1835 by a band of Texans 
commanded by Milam, who was killed just inside the archway. Col. Frank John- 
son, second in command, took command, and earned the town by storm. This is 
ihe house in which Col. Bowie, of Bowie knife fame, married his wife and lived 
until the siege of the Alamo, in which massacre he heroically lost his life. (See pages 
10 and from 12 to 17.) 

After breakfast you can order your carriage and drive to the Water- works, and, 
if you can get a pass, also to the Brackenridge Villa beyond. In returning, visit 
the Quarries near by, and the Alamo Cement Works. 

AFTERNOON. 

Drive down South Flores Street by the San Antonio Arsenal, thence through 
Lovers' Lane, and across tlie river back to the city, and out to the cemeteries on the 
eastern hills, where you will have another fine view of the city. In this drive you 
will pass Powder House Hill, the location of the Texan Camp at the time of the 
capture of San Antonio, and the death of Col. Ben Milam, in the Veramendi 
House. 

NionT. 

You can visit the beer gardens or other places of amusement about the city, as 
your fancy may direct. 

THIRD DAY. 

Call at the Merchants' Exchange, and see the methods of doing business tuere, 
and the author will also take pleasure in giving you hints as to how to pass the 
remaining days of youi visit in a manner at once pleasant and profitable. 

CONCLUSION. 

The foregoing it intended merely as a hint to visitors as to how they can pass a 
brief visit to our ancient city in walks and drives, so as to see the principal attrac- 
tions here, in the shortest possible time. Of course tastes differ, and what will 
deeply interest one will tire another, so that it is impossible to prescribe any fixed 
set of walks and drives which will interest all alike. These are points to be settled 
by each visitor for himself or herself. Those who follow the course mapped out 
for the two days, with, perhaps, slight variations, will get a good general idea of 
the city and its rapid growth, but if more time is at the command of the visitor, he 
or she can obtain a much more thorough idea of the actual advantages to be enjoyed 
here, as well as more benefit from our curative climate. A Sunday passed in this 
city will enable the visitor to see all the noted churches, and leave time to ride to 
San Pedro Park late in the afternoon, and see how a portion of the citizens pass 
part of the Sabbath. Then, too, there are many beautiful little cities and towns within 
easy reach by stage lines, and a visit to these will prove a pleasant diversion from 
the ordinary railroad travel. Certainly no one will leave the city witliout a visit to 
China Hall, and securing a souvenir of the ]\lissions, or a hand painted tile or 
plaque, or piece of China bearing a hand-painted view of some historic or romantic 
scene about the city, and those specially interested in art should also visit the studio 
of Mr. R. J. Onclcrdonk, opposite St. Mary's Church. 

We might continue this subject until it filled volumes, and even then leave an 
ample field untouched for other writers to comment on. In a work of this charac- 
ter little can be done, except to give a few general directions, and leave each 
traveller to go over the road for himself, for the city of San Antonio is an anomaly. 
There is uo other like it, and nothing on this continent to compare with it. No 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 141 

two persons would see or describe it alike, and the same person visiting it a second 
time would see and describe it differently. It is probably the most cosmopolitan 
city in the world, as well as a living link between the superstition of the sixteenth 
century and the advanced free thouglit of the present day. The rude architecture 
of the ancient Spanish frontier forts is here crowded by the mo.-t perfect models 
of modern architecture. Wrested from its savage founders by the followers and 
contemporaries of the Spanish conquerors; made the headquarters in Western Texas 
of the missionaries of Kome, and by them embellished and adorned by monumenis 
of mediaeval architecture; captured by American buccaneers; recaptured by Spanish 
royalists; again in the hands of Mexican republicans; again the headquarters of 
the Mexican army in Texas; first Republican then Royalist; ruled over successively 
by a Governor, a political Chief, a General and an Alcalde; then captured by the 
American colonists; conquered by the bloody tyrant Santa Anna, and made the 
scene of the most noble sacrifice in the holy cause of liberty known in the history 
of the world; its stones baptized in the blood of patriots, and its fertile soil lein- 
vigorated alike by the ashes of heroic martyrs and a savage foe; the western metro- 
polis of the Lone-Star Republic ; then a frontier post of the State of Texas, con- 
tinually harrassed by Indians and menaced by Mexican invaders ; the shuttle cock 
of military fortune; it had, finally, began to permanently improve and attract to it 
distinguished citizens of every nationality of Europe, when the civil war again 
changed its allegiance, and it became a military post of the Department of the 
Southern Confederacy. After four years, through the annihilation of the Cen- 
federacy, it became the military post of the Army of the United States in the Ter- 
ritory of Texas. With the readmission of Texas into the Union, San Antonio again 
became the gem city of the Lone-Star State, and since that time has steadily 
increased in population and wealth, until at the present writing its future bids fair 
to rightfully establish its claims as the metropolis of the great southwest. Yet the 
city, bearing the marks and handiwork of each of its successive rulers (the old and 
the new mingled in charming disorder), the Spanish frontier fort, with its embattled 
roof and heavily ironed windows and doors, marked by the bloody contests of the 
past, side by side with modern business emporiums towering story upon story 
above their ancient neighbor, with its ancient streets and plazas, suggestive of the 
rule of the early Spanish conquerors, crowded with heavily-loaded drays and 
luxurious carriages of the wealthy inhabitants of the present day; now threaded by 
a long wagon train from the interior of Mexico drawn by from twelve to sixteen little 
mules, arranged four abreast, or by broad horned oxen with the yokes fastened to 
their horns by strong raw-hide throngs; the far-famed cow-boy, easily distinguished 
by his pants tucked in his boots, woollen shirt, huge Mexican spurs, and broad 
sombrero, side by side with representative business men from every country in 
Europe and every section of the United States; Mexican and American: Jew and 
Gentile; Christian and Pagan, all mingling together in the utmost harmony; the 
ancient irrigation ditches of the early Spaniards threading thoroughfares lighted by 
gas and electricity, and supplied with pure water from the hydrants of the Water 
Works Company, and also traversed by the horse-railroad; the beautiful San An- 
tonio tortuously winding along with its well-wooded banks through the centre of the 
city, and crossed by six iron and two wooden bridges, while the San Pedro creek 
meanders parallel to it in the western portion of the city. A city of squares and 
plazas; of beautiful ladies; unbounded hospitality, and many societies. On the 
frontier of civilization, yet provided with every comfort and luxury of the present 
age; on the one hand the railroad, the telegraph, and the telephone; while on the 
other are seen the lumbering frontier stagecoach and long train of prairie schooners 
and Mexican wagons. Public gardens, parks, delightful drives, good roads, and 
novel sights on every side; is it any wonder tliat the stranger, uninformed of our 
eventful history, finds it so difficult to obtain a correct idea of our ancient city of 
the plains? 

This is the intention of this book, to give a fair sketch of the history of the 
city; point out some of its peculiarities; give a truthful business review, and present 
such facts and hints to the reader as will prove of benefit to him and an advantage 
to San Antonio. If this obiect has been accomplished, the many hours of arduous 
and oft-timeM discouraging labor, passed in the preparation of this slight testimonial 
of my gratitude and love for my adopted home, will be deemed to have been well 



142 THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 

spent. "We will only add, the enterprising capitalist will find here many unde- 
veloped enterprises not even hinted at in these pages, which will afford rich paying 
investments for his surplus capital. Fortunes are lying neglected all over our 
prairies, and the lulure of this city is rich with the most glowing possibilities for 
those who will take advantage of them. 

If our progress has been great in the past, the future promises still greater gains 
in material advancement of every kind. Nor are our people lacking in educational 
advantages, as we have shown in our brief reference to the schools located kere, 
both public and private. We do not call our schools colleges, but tlje course of 
instruction is as thorough as in any such institutions, and is yearly being improved 
and extended to meet the growing demand for higher education. If our people 
have been slow to take advantage of natural advantages, it cannot be said they have 
made any great failures, and every step forward has been taken permanently, and 
is an actual advance. These advances will be more rapid in the future than in the 
past, and each year will verify the justice of the claim which we now make, that 
San Antonio is the largest and most thriving city of Texas, as well as the most 
beautiful, quaint, and healthy city on the American continent. 



FINIS. 



SAN ANTONIO 

Advertisers' Directory, 



This is a complete Directory to tlie San Ai^tojs^io 
Advertisers who have patronized this book. The lij^t in- 
cludes only first-class business and professional men, and. as 
such, we cordially recommend them to the public. 



Agricultural Implements. 
Milburn Wagiin Co., P. S. Jones, Mana- 
ger, Soledad Street, near Houston 
Street. 

Ammunition. 
Hummel, Charles & Son, West Commerce 
Street, near Main Plaza. 

Architects. 
Dobson, W. K., Yturrl Street. 
Giles, Alfred, 24 Soledad Street, next to 
County Court House. 

Artist. 
Onderdo^k, Robert J., Studio, opposite 
St. Mary's Church. 

Artiois'' Materials. 

C. H. Mueller, No. 205 West Commerce 
Street. 

Soule & Williams, No. 272 West Com- 
merce Street. 

Attorneys. 

Anderson, M. G. & T. G., Recorder's Court 
Building. 

Barnard, H. E., Dwyer Building, Main 
l^laza. 

Chevalier, A. S Comer Soledad and 
Houston Streets. 

Cocke, Fred., District and County At- 
torney, County Court House. 

Devine & Smith, Offices 7 and 8 Devine 
Building, Soledad Street. 

Dibble, L D., San Antonio, Texas. 

Digge & Aubrey, Offices 21 and 22 French 
Building, Main Plaza. 



Eckford & Newton, Maverick Building, 
Soledad Street. 

Fish, James G.,. at County Court House. 

Harrison & Harrison, Office 2 Devine Build- 
ing, Soledad Street. 

Howard, Russell, DeviEe Building, Sole- 
dad Street. 

King & Mason, Office 6 Maverick Build- 
ing, Soledad Street. 

Mason & Paschal, Office 45 Garza Build- 
ing, corner Houston and Soledad 
Streets. 

Mayfield, Chas. H., Office 7, 24 Soledad 
Street. 

Ogdeu & Ogden, No. G Soledad Street, 

Pray, T. G., 7 East Houston Street. 

Stevenson, James Duryee. 258 West Com- 
merce Street, corner Ytiirii Street. 

Tee], T. T., San Antonio, Texa'^. 

Walthal, L. N., Office 5, No. 12 Soledad 
Street. 

Willev, R. H.. Office with Cayce & Co., 
Soledad Street. 

Wurzback & Copeland, Devine Building, 
Soledad Street. 

Young, H. F «& W H. . West Commerce 
Street, near Main Plaza. 

Auctioneer {Real Estate). 
Hosack, J. A. H., West Commerce 
Street, near Main Plaza. 

Ba7il-ers. 
Lockwood & Kampmann, corner West 
Commerce and Yiurri Streets. 

Barbed Fence Wire. 
Wilgus, G., 325 East Houston Street. 



144 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



Bird Dealer. 
DeVeire, C, 3 West Commerce Street. 

Blank Boole Manufacturers. 
Fromraer. C. F., 23 Soledad Street. 
Mooney, M. M , Daily Express Building, 

West Commerce Street. 

Book Binder. 
rrommer, C. F., 23 Soledad Street. 

Cabinet Makers. 
Mittmann, Wra., opposite Daily Express 

Building, West Commerce Street. 
Phelps, H., & Son, OOl West Houston 

Street. 
Selleck, W. W., Sr., 51 South Alamo 

Street. 

Carpets. 
Wolfson, L., corner Main Plaza and Ace- 

quia Street, see pages 66, 67. 

Carriages, Wagons and Buggies. 
Milburn Wagon Co., P. S. Jones, Mana- 
ger, Soledad and West Houston 
Street. 

Cement Manufacturers and Dealers. 
Alamo Cement Co., 507 and 509 Military 
Plaza, see page 90. 

China, Glass, and Queensioare. 
China Hall, Gregory & Co.. 203 West 
Commerce Street. 

Coffee, Tea, and Spices. 
Holland, R A., 14 West Commerce Street. 

Coinmissioner of Deeds. 
Stevenson, James Duryee. 258 West Com- 
merce Street, corner Ylurri Street. 

Commission Merchants. 
Chabot, Moss & Co. (.'^licep and wool), 

S. E. corner Main Plaza. 
Leal, Narcisso (live stock), opposite Hord's 

Hotel. 
Ootbout & Nash (general). West side, Mili 

tary Flaza. 

Dentists. 
Johnston & CarruU, 273 (North Side) West 

Commerce Street. 

Dressmaking. 
Ladies' Fashion Parlor, 405 East Houston 
Street. 

Druggists. 
Huppertz, H. J., 21 Soledad Street. 
Kalteyer, F., & Son. 507 and 509 Military 

Plaza (North Side) 
Orynski, L., S. E. corner Military Plaza, 
corner South Fiores Street. 



Dry Goods. 
Wolfson, L., corner Main Plaza and 

Acequia Street. 
Young & Arnold, 243 West Commerce 

Street. 

Fishing Rods, Hooks, Lines, etc. 
Hummel, Charles & Son, West Commerce 
Street, near Main Plaza. 

Furniture. 
Wolfson, L., N. W. corner ]\Iain Plaza, 
corner Acequia Street. Pages 66, 67. 

Groceries and Promsions. 
Casey & Co., 823 and 325 East Houston 

Street. 
Dwyer, J. E., Executor Grenet Estate, 
Alamo Building, Alamo Plaza. 

Guns, Pistols, etc. 
Hummel, Charles, & Son, West Commerce 
Street, near Main Plaza. 

Hide, Cotton, and Wool Buyer. 
Zanderson, Colonel T. H., 320 Military 
Plaza (South Side). 

Hospital. 

Santa Rosa, corner North Concho and 

Zavalla Streets. See pages 81, 82. 

Hotels. 
Hord's Hotel, Main and Military Plaza. 
Menger Hotel, Alamo Plaza and Blum 

Street. 
Yance Hotel, corner East Houston and 

St. Mary's Streets. 

Infortnation and Investment 
Bureau. 
West Texas Information and Investment 
Bureau. Stephen Gould, Manager. 
Otfice at Merchants' Exchange. 

Insurance. 
Patterson, J. W. Ballantyne, 258 West 
Commerce Street, corner Yturri Street 

Jewellers. 
Bell «fe Brothers, Wes-t Commerce Street, 
near Main Plaza. 

Job Printers 
Mooney, M. M. , Daily Express Building, 

West Commerce Street. 
Texas AVool Publishing Company, East 

Houston Street at Bridge. 

Lawyers {see Attorneys). 

Liter y. Feed, and Sale Stable. 

Carter & Mullaly (East Side) Alamo Plaza. 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



141 



Live Stock Dealers. 
Chabot, Moss & Co., S. E. cornrr Maiu 

Plaza (Sheep). See page 64. 
Leal, ISIarcisso, opposite Hord's Hotel. 

Loan and Paivii Broker. 
Schwarz, B., S. W. corner Military Plaza. 

Mattress Manufacturers. 
Phelps, H., & Son. 601 West Houston 
Street, corner North Laredo Street. 

Merchant Tailors. 
Pancoast, A., & Son, 38 and 40 West 
' Commerce Street. 

Mexican Curiosities. 
China Hall — Gregory & Co., corner West 
Commerce and Paso Streets. 

Millinery. 
Ladies' Fashion Parlor, 405 East Houston 
Street. 

Native Wine Depot. 
Arlzt, C, G., Corner Market and Yturri 
Streets. 

Notaries Public. 
Caldwell, Geo. W., 278 West Commerce 

Street, near Main Plazu. 
Copelaud, J. H., (Wurzback & Copeland) 

Devine Building, Soledad Street. 
Mason, J. R., (Mason & Pashal) Garza 
Building, Soledad and Houston 
Streets. 
Samuels, W. G. M.. Sheriff's Office, 

County Court House. 
Stevenson, James Duryee. 258 West Com- 
merce Street, corner Yturri Street. 
Voung, W. H., (H. F. & W. H. Young) 
West Commerce Street, near ]Main 
Plaza. 

Omnibus Line. 
barter »fc Mullaly, East side Alamo Plaza. 

Paints and House Painters. 
Mueller, C, H., 205 West Commerce 

Street. 
Soule & Williams, 272 West Commerce 

Street. 

Photographers. 
F. Kuhn & Co., N. W. corner Main 

Plaza, corner Accquia Street. 

Physicians, Allopathic. 
Lowry, S. T., Residence, 808 Avenue C. 

Homoeopathic. 
Beaumont, E. L., Office, 273 West Com- 
merce Street. 
Jones & Bo wen, Office, 250 West Com- 
merce Street. See Cnapter VI, 
page 76. 



Real Estate Agents. 

Caldwell, Geo. W., 273 (North side) West 
Commerce Street, near Main Plaza. 

Cayce&Co., Veramendi Building, Sole- 
dad Street. 

Fish, James G., County Court House. 

Gordon, Geo. M., Garza Building, corner 
Houston and Soledad Streets. 

Ilosack, J. A. H., West Commerce Street, 
near Main Plaza. 

Patterson, W. J. Ballantyne, 258 West 
Commerce St., corner Yturri Street. 

Wadswortli. ^V. T. , Old Post-office Build- 
ing, Soledad Street. 

Saloons. 
Billy & Joe, No. 8 Soledad Street. 
International Saloon, James N. Gallagher, 

near I. & G. N. R'y Depot. 
Revolving Light Saloon, G. W. Hurley & 

Co., "No. (} Main Plaza. 

School. 
Captain Coits' Select Boarding and Day 
School, 407 Nacodoches Street. 

Sheep Corral Fencings. 
Wilgus, G., 325 East Houston Street. 

Sheep Dealers. 
Chabot, Moss & Co., S. E. corner Main 
Plaza. See page 64. 

Sportsmen''s Supplies. 
Hummel, Charles & Son, West Commerce 
Street, near Maiu Plaza. 

Surveyor. 
Locke, Wm. M., Country and District 
Surveyor, County Court House. 

Upholsterers. 
Mittmann, Wm. , West Commerce Street, 

opposite Daily Express Building. 
Phelps, H., & Son, 601 Wist Houston 

Street, corner North Laredo Street. 
Selleck. W. W., Sr., 51 South Alamo 

Street. 

Undertaker. 
Sheern, Joseph, 2 '9 West Commerce 

Street. 

United States Commissioner. 
Paschal, Geo. (Mason <Sc Paschal), Garza 

Building, corner Houston and Sole- 
dad Streets. 

Wire Fencing. 
Wilgus, G., 325 East Houston Street. 

Wool Buyer. 
Zanderson, Col. T. II., 320 Military Plaza 
(South Side). See page GO. 



INDEX 



PAGE 

African M. E. Church 49, 50 

Agricultural Implements 66 

Agriculture 98 to 103 

Alamo 17 lo 33, 139 

Alamo Benevolent Association 13 J 

Alamo Cement Company 90 

Alamo Council, No. 466, L. of H. . . . 138 
Alamo Lodge, No. 44, F.&A.N ... 135 

Alamo Mills 84 

Alamo Plaza 130 

Alazaii, Battle of the 8 

Alazan Creek ■ 86 

Amateur Artists 130 

Amateur Theatricals. 131 

Ammunition 67 

Anchor Lodge, No. 434, F. & A. M . . 126 
Ancient Order of United Workingm-u 137 

Ancient Spanish Mines . 93 to 97 

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. . 136 

Andrevvs, Col. H. B 73 

Anglo Texas-Mexican Mining& Smelt- 
ing Company ... 97 

Annexation of Texas to tlio United 

States 36 

Antimony 95 

Apricots 100 

Arsenal 55, 56 

Artichokes. 99 

Artists 130 

Artists' Materials 66 

Art Studio 130 

Artzt, C. G 102 

Asphaltum 95 

Austin, Moses 9 

Austin, Stephen Fuller 9, 11 

Banking Facilities 59 

Bananas li)l, 133 

Baptist Church 45 to 47 

Baptist Mission Chapel 47 

Bat Caves 96 

Bathing in the River 137 

Best Cement in America 90, 91 

Beabachter 115 

B.^xar Benevolent Association 133 

Bexar County , 108 

Bexar County Court House . . . 108 to 111 

Bexar County Election 108 

Bexar County Jail 110, 111 

Bexar County Olficers 108 

Bismuth 95 

Blackberries 100 

Boarding and Day School (Coit's) 119 



PAGE 

Board of Trade 59 

Bowie, Col. Jamc s . . 10 to 13, 17 ti) 23, 93 

Breathing Places ILU to 133 

Brick 89 

Bridges 83, 187 

British Association 133 

Building Material 89 

Burleson, Gen. Edward 1- to 14 

Burle.'on Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3 . . 126 
Business Organizations 59 

Caladiums 101 

Caldwell, Geo. W 67 

Cannas 101 

Cantaloups 100 

Cape Myrtle 101 

Captain Coit's Select Boardiiii^ and 

Day School '. . . . . 119 

Tarter & Mullaly 139 

Casino Association and Hall 132 

Castroville Quill 116 

Cathedral of San Fernando 34, 1;,9 

Cathedral of St. Mark. 3J to 43 

Cattle 03 

Cement 89 

Cement Factory 90 

Centinella 115 

Central Garden 131 

Central High School 118 

Chabot, Moss «fc Co 64 

Charters of San Antonio a, 106 

' "hemicals 66 

China Burning or Firing 130 

China Hall . .' 66 

China Painting 12 i 

Chinati Mining Cormtry 96 

Churches 34 to 50 

City Cemeteries 140 

City Debt 107 

City Elections 106 

City Fire Departmt ut 107 

City Government 106 

City Hall 106 

City Officials 106 

City Population 107 

City Taxes 107 

Climate 76 to d3, 98 

Coal Mines 95 

Cock Fighting 129 

Coffee 67 

Colored Churches 49. 50 

Comal River 87, 88 

Cousumption Cured 73 to 83 



148 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE. 



PAGE 

Converse, Major James 74 

Copper Mines 94 

Cotton ... 01 

Count Revilla-Gigedo 4, 28, 29, 92 

County, Bexar 108 

County Commissioners 108 

County Commissioners Court 113 

County Court .. 113 

County Court House 108 to 111 

County Election 108 

County Jail 110, 111 

County Officers 108 

Courts 113 

Crockett Block ...Ill, 112 

Crockett, Davy , . . 17 to 23 

Crotous 101 

Deadly Weapons 137 

Deaf ISmith 10, 12, 16 

Debt of San Antonio 107 

Delgado, Col., murdered and avenged G, 8 

District Court 113 

Dnbson, W. K 1 i 8 

Doss 137 

Droughts 99 

Drugs 6() 

Dry Goods . 65 

Early Crops 98 to 102 

Edar Lodge, No. 211, I. O. B' Nai 

Biith 128 

Educational Advantages 117 

Elections 107, 108 

Electric Light 105 

Elevation above Gulf of Mexico. ... 3 

Elk Lodge. No. 35, K. of P. 128 

El Paso Onions 99 

English Ivy 101 

Episcopal Cathedral 30 to 42 

Episcopal Chapels 42 

Evangelical Association 47, 48 

Evening Light 114 

Express, Daily and Weekly 114 

Fall of the Alamo 17 to 23 

Fanning, Col. J. W 11 

Past Driving 186 

Ferns 101 

Fight with Indians on Main Piaza. .22, 23 

Figs, Natural Home of liiO 

Finest Water Power in Texas 87, 8S 

Fire Deparlmeut 107, 108 

First American Inhabitants 6 

First Baptist Church 45 to 47 

First Charter 5 

First Governor 5 

First Mission 32, 33 

Fir?t Presbyterian Church 42, 43 

First SefJemcnt 4 



PAGE 

First Ward School 117 

Flowers 100 

Founding of the Missions . . . .28, 29 

Fourth Mission 84 

Fourth Ward Schools ,..118 

Freemasons 125 

Freer, P. B 74 

Free Presse Fuer Texas 1 14 

Free Schools ...117,118 

French in Texas 4 

Fruit Growing 98 to 102 

Furniture 66 

Galveston. Harrisburg and San Anto- 
nio Railroad 27. 71 to 74 

Gas Company 105 

General Business Prosperity 65 

German Catholic Church 30 

German English School 119 

German Lutheran Churrh 47 

German M. E. Church 45 

Gibbs, Col. C. C 74 

Gifford, A. W. (Mining Expert). . . .96, 97 

Giles, Alfred (Architect) 108 to 112 

Glassware 66 

Gold Mines 95 

Gosling, Hal. L. (U. S. Marshal, Edi- 
tor Quill) 116 

Government, City and Countrj'^.106 to 108 
Governors of Texas under Spain . ... 5, 6 

Grain 64 

Grapes 100 

Grass Fight 12 

Greeley No. 2 98 

Gregory «fc Co 66 

Grocery Trade 65 

Guadaloupe River 87 

Guano 96 

Guenther's Mills 85 

Gypsum 95 

Hackberry Tree 101 

Hack Regulations 135, 136 

Hardware 66 

Health 76 to 83 

Hide Market 62 

High School 118 

Historic Bell 41 

Hitching Horses 137 

Honeysuckle 101 

Hord's Hotel 135 

Horned Chair 69 

Horse Rail way 103 

Horse Raising 63 

Hospital (Santa Rosa) 81, 83 

House Numbers 138 

Ice Factories 105 

Indian Allies 7 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE 



149 



PAGE 

Indian Battles 6 

Indian Converts 29, 30 

Indian Fight on Main Plaz i 23, 24 

Indian History 4 

Indian Murders 10 

Indians Rewarded 8 

Indian Tribes in Texas. ... .... 29, 30 

Indian Wars 5 

International and Great Northern 

Railroad 74, 75 

Iron Mines ... 94 

Ivy 101 

Jewellers 66 

Jewish Synagogue 48, 49 

Jews in San Antonio 48 

Johnson, Col. F. W 12 to 17 

Jones, Dr. Joseph 76 to 80 

Justices of the Peace 113 

Kalteyer, F. . & Son 66, 68 

Kalteyer, George H 90, 91 

Kerbie, R 131 to 133 

Knights of Honor 127 

Knights of Pythias 128 

Knights Templar 126 

Labor 99 

La Harpe 4 

Landa, Joseph 87. 88 

Landa Mills 87, 88 

Lands adapted to farming, etc. .98 to 102 

Lands, cost of 99 

Laux Mill 84 

Lead Mines 94 

Legion of Honor 128 

Leon Creek 80 

Lewis Mill 84 

Life Insurance Discounted 7!) 

Lime Kilns 89, 90 

Live Stock Market 63 

Livery Stable Charges 139 

Loaning and Investment Agency 60 

Lockwood & Kampmann (Bankers). . 59 

Lumber 65 

Lutheran Church 47 

iVIacedonia Baptist Church 50 

Madarasz, L. W. (Florist) 100 

Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 

44, 45 

• Magazines 115 

Magee Expedition 7 

Magnolias 101 

Mail Facilities 104 

Main Plaza 130 

]\Iain Plaza Indian Fight 23, 24 

Manufacturing Speculations S6 to 88 

Masonic 125 



PAGE 

Medina, Battle of tho 9 

Medina River 86 

Menger Hotel 134 

Merchant Tailors 68 

Merchants' Exchange 59 

Mesquite Besins 64 

Mesquite Tree 101 

Methodist Episcopal Churches. .43 to 50 
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 

43, 44 

Mexican Cathedral 34, 35, 138 

Mexican Curiosities 66 

Mexican Eating Stands 138 

Mexican Labor ?9 

Mexican M. E. Church 45 

Mexican Mines 97 

Mexican Pedlars 138 

Mexican Tyranny 10 

Mexican Vengeance 8 

Milam, Col. Benj. R 13 to 16 

Military Headquarters 51 to 55 

Mi litary History 51 to 58 

Military Plaza 130, 138 

Military Posts in Texas 58 

Military Telegraphs 1(3 

Mineral Springs 76, 86 

Miner, Charles E 74 

Mines in Texas 92 to 97 

Minor Manufactories 86 

Mission Concepcion, Battle of 11 

Mission Mills 85 

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Con- 
cepcion 82, 33, 139 

Mission San Antonio Valero (Al- 
amo) 17 to 23, 31, 33, 139 

Mission San Francisco de la Espada 34 

Mission San Juan Capistrano 34, 139 

Mission San Jose Aguayo 33, 139 

Missions Founded 4,29, M 

Missions, Table of 31 

Missions, Views of 28 

Missions, Wealth of 30 

Mittmann, Wm. (Upholsterer) 69 

Mount Zion Baptist Church 50 

Mulberries 101 

Murder of Col. Delgado 6 

Musical Societies 120 

Musk Melons 100 

Native Wine 102 

New Braunfels 87, 88 

Newspapers 1 14 

Nicaragua Wheat 99 

Night Blooming Cereus 102 

Odd Fellows' Hall and Lodges 127 

Old San Antonio Road 4 

Onderdonk, Robert J. (Artist). . .120, 140 
Onions 99 



150 



THE ALAMO CITT GUIDE, 



PAGE 

Oothout & Nash (Commission Mer- 
chants . 61 

Orphan Asylum 120 I 

Oryn-ki, L. (Druggist) 66 | 

Osage Orange 101 

Painters 66, 1'20, 140 

Painting 130, 140 

Palms 101 

Paper Railroads 75 

Parks 131 to 133 

Patent Medicines 66 

Patterson, W. J. Ballantyne 60 

Peaches lOO 

Pearl Oysters 96 

Pecan Nuts 64 

Peculiar Institution 129 

Permanent Water Power 86 to 88 

Petroleum 96 

Pierce, Col. Thomas W 73 

Pierce Railroad 71 to 74 

Pierce, T. W., Jr 74 

Plaza Market 138 

Plazas 130 

Pleasure Resorts 130 to 1j3 

Plums lOa 

Polish Catholic Church 36 

Pomegranate 101 

Population of San Antonio 107 

Post of Bexar Established 4 

Post Office 104 

Potatoes . . 99 

Prehistoric San Antonio 4 

Presbyterian First Church 42, 43 

Presbyterian Madison Sq. Church. 44, 45 

Private Schools 119 

Prof usion of Flowers 101 

Pryor, W. P 74 

Public Schools 117, 118 

Quarries 89, 90 

Quartermaster's Depot 51 to 55 

Quill, the Castroville 116 

Railroads 71 to 75 

Raspberries 100 

Ratama Tree 101 

Real Estate Dealers 67 

Recorder's Court 113 

Religious History , 28 to 50 

Remarkable Cures 76 to 83 

Rides 138 to 140 

Rosalio, Battle of 7 

Roses 101 

Roster of U. S. Troops in Texas, 

56 to 58 

Salado Quarry 89 

Salt Lakes and Mines 95 



San Antonio Arsenal 55, 56 

San Antonio as a Health Resort. 76 to 83 

San Antonio as a Trade Center 59 

San Antonio, Battle of 13 

San Antonio Board of Trade 59 

San Antonio British Associa'iim 123 

San Antonio Captured by Vasquis. . . 23 

San Antonio Charters 5, 106 

San Antonio Club . 123 

San Antonio Commandery, No. 7,K.T. 126 
San Antonio Cotton Market. ... 61 

San Antonio Council, No. 14, R. & S. 

Masters 126 

San Antonio Debt 107 

San Antonio Electric Company 105 

San Antonio Fire Department 107 

San Antonio Gas Company 1(J5 

San Antonio Grain Market 64 

San Antonio Gymnastic Association.. 133 
San Antonio Hack Regulations. 135, 136 

San Antonio Hide Market 02 

San Antonio Ice Factories 105 

San Antonio Literary and Debating 

Society 123 

Saa Antonio Live Stock Market 63 

San Antonio Lodge, No. 11. 1. O. O. F. 127 
San Antonio Mechanics' and Working 

men's Union 124 

San Antonio Merchants' Exchange. . 59 

San Antonio Officials 106 

San Antonio Ordinances. 135 to 137 

San Antonio Pul)lic Schools 117, 118 

San Antonio River 83 

San Antonio Schuetzen Verein 133 

San Antonio Street Railway 103 

San Antonio Taxes 107 

San Antonio Telephone Exchange. . . 104 

San Antonio Times 114 

San Antonio Water Works 84 

San Antonio Wool Market 60 

San Fernando Cathedral 34, 35, 138 

San Geronimo Quarries 89 

San Pedro Creek 85, 131, 133 

S m Pedro Park or Springs 130 to 133 

San Pedro Plaza 130 

Santa Anna 17 to 38 

Santa Rosa Hospital 81, 82 

Second Mission 3 !, 34 

Second Ward Schools 117 

Secret Societies 125 to 128 

Secret Societies, Table of Meetings. . 128 

Shade Trees 101 

Siege of the Alamo 17 to 33 

Silver Mines 94 

Skins and Pelts 63 

Slocum, Dr. Mortimer (6, 79 

Small Fruits 100 

Social Organizations 133 to 134 

Southern Confederacy 36, 37 



THE ALAMO CITY GUIDE, 



151 



PAGE 

South Sea Island Tree 101 

Spanish Colonists 5 

Spanish Mines 93 to 97 

Special Facilities 103 to 105 

Sportsmen's Supplies 67 

St. Denis 4 

St John's German Lutheran Church, 47 

St. Joseph's German Catholic Church, 36 

St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 36 to 43 

St. Mary's Chiu'ch. . 35 

St. Mary's Hall 119 

St. Mary's Institute 119 

St. Michael's Church 36 

St. Paul's M. E. Church 50 

Star Council, No. 231, L. of H 128 

Stock Sheep 64 

Strawberries 100 

Street Railway 103 

Sunset Lodge, No. 1136, K. of H 137 

Sunset Railroad 71 to 74 

Synagogue Beth El 48, 49 

Table of the Missions 30 

Tailors 68 

Taxes 107 

Tea 67 

Teleo^raph 103 

Telephone 104 

Tenth Street M. E. Church, Souih.. . 45 

Texas Ponies 63 

Texas Wine 103 

Texas Wool Journal and Publishing 

Co 115 

Thermopylfe of America. 17 to 23, 31, 32 

The Times 114 

Third Mission 34 

Third Ward Schools 117 

Trade Statistics 70 

Travis, Col. Wm. Barrett 17 to 23 

Travis Park 131 

Trees.. 101 

Trinity M. E. Church 45 

Trueheart, Jas. L 34 to 26 



PAGE 

Tuberoses 101 

Turner Hall and Turn Verein 122 

United States Arsenal 55, 56 

United States Military Headquar- 
ters 51 to 55 

United States Military Officers 56 to 58 

United States Military Officers' Resi- 
dences 55 

United States officials 113 

United States Troops in Texas. .56 to 58 
Ursullne Convent 36, 120 

Vance Hotel 134 

Vegetable Market ] 38 

Veramendi House 10, 15, 140 

Verbenas Grow Wild 103 

Violets 101 

Visitors' Guide 134 to 142 

Vital Statistics 80 to -81 



Wagons 

Ward Boundaries 

Water Melons .. . 

Water Power 83, 86 to 

Water Power of the Comal 87, 

Water Works 

Wealth of the Missions 

Wesache Tree 

Wheat 

Wild Flowers 

Wine Factory 

Wire Fencing 

Wolfson, L 66, 

Wood Market 

Wool's Invasion 24 to 

Wool Journal 

Wool Market 



66 
138 
lUO 



84 

30 
inl 

99 
102 
102 

68 

67 
138 

26 
114 

60 



Zanderson, Col. T. H., (Wool, Hide 

and Cotton Buyers) 00 

Zembrano's Row ; 15 



PICTURES AND PICTURE FRAMES 

— AND — 

^ JS£0 ULDTNGS, ^ 

— AT — 

C. H. MUELLER'S PAINT STORE. 
G. W. HURLEY & CO., 

JVo. e MAIN PLjlZA, 



.^^Iso HDealers ina. ZBest 



D WINES: LIQUORS, -"CMS 



T. S. HARRISON. 
(AND SON.) 



TOM HARRISON. 



HARRISON & HARRISON, 



I 



p. o. Box No. 12. Soledad Street, San Antonio, Texas. 

Twenty-Jive years' experience in Texas. Practise in all State and Federal Courts. 

SAN ROSA HOSPITAL, ~ 

CoT". JV. OoTzcho cured, Zcli^clZLcl Streets, 

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY. 

This instituliou has been placed upon a finn basis, having commodious rooms 
for the use of the sick, with the very best of accommodation combined with the 
comfort of a home. 

Charges, $1.00, $1.25, and $2.00 jjer day 

accorumg to ^^>cation of rooms and attention required. All patients required to 
furnish their own physician and medicine. For further particulars apply to 

Mother ST. PIERRE, Superiofess, San Antonio, lexas. 



